by Louise Doyle
A MAJOR policing operation during Donegal International Rally at the weekend saw a number of arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and speeding.
The Garda Air Support was deployed, and increased checkpoints, high-visibility patrols and extra marked and unmarked garda vehicles were also in place to ensure zero tolerance of illegal activity during the hugely popular annual sporting event, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the county every year.
An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) also jointly launched a Cross-Border Traffic Management Plan for the event.
At the launch, Chief Superintendent Goretti Sheridan of the Donegal Garda Division emphasised that road safety will be actively promoted on both sides of the border throughout the weekend.
She stressed how the vast majority of people who come to enjoy the rally are law abiding, and called on the small minority of people who engage in illegal activity not to do so.
While a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána told the Donegal News yesterday that a full tally of arrests and incidents arising from the Donegal International Rally were “not available at this time”, some arrests and incidents have been highlighted on An Garda Síochána’s social media platforms.
On Friday, gardaí observed a car being driven in a dangerous manner in Letterkenny. The driver was stopped and they tested positive for cocaine and cannabis.
An arrest was made and the car was seized under Section 109(a) of the Road Traffic Act 1961.
Elsewhere on Friday, gardaí from Buncrana Roads Policing Unit arrested a driver after they were detected travelling at a speed of 174kph in a 100kph speed zone in the Newtowncunningham area. The driver was charged to appear in court.
Over the weekend gardaí from Letterkenny Roads Policing Unit seized a car as it had no tax and no NCT.
In another incident, a driver was arrested on suspicion of drug driving at a checkpoint after they tested positive for cocaine.
Two vehicles were seized in Dungloe as neither had insurance, tax or NCT.
Meanwhile, Letterkenny Roads Policing Unit conducted a Mandatory Intoxicant Testing checkpoint in the Manorcunningham area and arrested a driver on suspicion of drink driving.
The driver’s car was seized as it was suspected to be dangerous/defective.
A PSV examination of the car will now take place.
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