Nine drivers arrested in Cork over bank holiday weekend during garda operation 

A senior garda has confirmed that nine motorists were arrested in Cork over the bank holiday weekend in relation to driving under the influence of an intoxicant.

The Echo joined Cork City Roads Policing Inspector, Gillian Synnott, at a routine checkpoint on Water Street yesterday morning, where one of nine motorists caught for drink or drug driving during the long weekend was arrested and brought to Bridewell Garda Station.

“This weekend, we have still seen a number of people who have been arrested for drink and drug driving, and a number of speeders caught in the last 24 hours alone,” said Insp Synnott yesterday.

“There are people still out there speeding and not abiding by the limits, so we would impress on people to slow down, take your time, and just think.

“Here in Cork we’ve had [nine] arrests in relation to drink and drug driving.

“The message is the same, we’re out in force, if you’re going on a night out, have a designated driver or leave the car keys at home – it’s devastating to have to be the person to knock on someone’s door after a serious incident.”

In addition, another driver at the checkpoint was found to be travelling without insurance, which led to their car being seized, and a court date to follow.

Insp Synnott yesterday further shared that since the St Brigid’s Bank Holiday Weekend Roads Policing Operation commenced on Thursday, there have been more than 160 drivers caught for drink or drug driving nationally, as well as 450 drivers caught speeding in a 24 hour period. One Cork motorist was among those caught speeding when they were detected travelling at 80km/h in a 50km/h zone along the Rochestown Road.

Nationally, there have been 14 fatalities recorded on Irish roads so far this year. Insp Synnott said that while it is disappointing to see these figures, the number of fatalities has decreased in comparison to the same time period in 2024.

“Fatalities are down on this time last year. We’ve had six less deaths compared to this time in 2024, so that is positive, but we will continue our road enforcement campaign every day this week,” she said.

As part of the long weekend’s policing operations, An Garda Síochána utilised a number of covert vehicles in addition to their marked fleet, including HGV’s and a motorbike, which have been used for an additional campaign, Operation IOMPAR, to assist in enforcing the bank holiday campaign across Cork.

“With Operation IOMPAR, we’ve had an unmarked HGV deployed over the last number of weeks within Cork city and county divisions, and it has been a very successful operation,” said Insp Synnott.

“We are still stopping people on their mobile phones, whether they’re texting or just holding the phone — the offence is holding it — [and] we stopped one particular individual [in Little Island] during the week who had two phones on them, so that is being investigated further.

“I’m pushing the message that if you’re using a mobile phone while driving, it puts yourself in danger and all other road users in danger — so I want to ask people to just put the phone down.”