A report into the inflation of alcohol breath tests has found that almost 1.5 million tests were claimed but never carried out.
Assistant Commissioner Michael O’Sullivan says the failure to provide the public with accurate breath test data reflects poorly on the professionalism of gardai.
While Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan says it’s critically important that sanctions will follow where appropriate.
This report finds that almost 3.5 million breath tests were recorded on the Garda Pulse system, but just 2 million Drager breath tests were used – a discrepancy of 70 percent.
Assistant Commissoner Michael O’Sullivan carried out the report and says this reflects poorly on the organisation and suggests that Gardai were inflating data
Further examinations with the potential for formal investigation have been ordered, and the Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan says it’s critically important that sanctions are applied where appropriate.
Among the recommendations are that alcohol checkpoints are reduced, and that only positive breath tests are recorded.
As for the fixed charge notices where almost 15 thousand people were incorrectly penalised, they’re being appealed through the courts.
Assistant Commissioner O’Sullivan found that there were too many people involved in the fixed charge notice system, and that front line Gardai knew little about how the complex system worked.
He’s calling for an overhaul of the system, reducing the number of offences.
