Garda investigating claims of 'officer' on quad bike

GARDA are investigating reports that one of its officers was driving a quad bike on some of Letterkenny’s busiest roads.

Photos, understood to have been taken on Sunday, show a man in Garda uniform making his way along the Circular Road close to Letterkenny University Hospital. There is no confirmation that the driver is a garda.

Along the Circular Road he goes.

Wearing neither protective clothing or a helmet, he then navigates his way on to the Hospital Roundabout.

When contacted, a spokesman for the Garda Press Office confirmed that they were aware of the alleged incident.

“We are currently investigating this matter and cannot comment further at this stage,” the brief statement read.

Last year 62 people were seriously injured in incidents related to quad bikes and scramblers and concerns have existed in Donegal for some time over the anti-social behaviour associated with the vehicles.

And on to a busy roundabout.

The images come to light as An Garda Siochána continues discussions with the Department of Transport around new laws which could see officers clampdown on quad bike users.

Currently gardai can only intervene when the bikes are being driven erratically on public roads or footpaths. Due to rising safety concerns, gardai were last week advised by management not to pursue people on the vehicles as doing so may lead to injury or accident.

Councillor Gerry McMonagle, who is also chairman of the Donegal Joint Policing Commitee, said that on viewing the images, his immediate concern was that the driver was not wearing a helmet.

“From a road safety perspective, whether this was a quad or a motorbike, they should be wearing a helmet,” Councillor McMonagle said.

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