Civilian worker ‘saw Garda fake a breath test’
Clerk fears practice was ‘widespread’
A CIVILIAN working in a Garda station has claimed she witnessed a member of the force blowing into a breathalyser machine in order to falsify test figures.
The clerical officer, who had been doing the job at the west of Ireland station for 25 years, contacted the Road Safety Authority after the incident on January 24, 2014.
The chief executive of the RSA then asked assistant commissioner Michael O’Sullivan to examine the matter as part of the investigation into breath test falsification figures.
‘Between 3pm and 4pm on that date I walked into the public office. The garda in question was sitting at a desk,’ she recalled in an interview on RTÉ Radio 1’s This Week yesterday. ‘I noticed the garda had an alcometer in his hand and was blowing full force into the alcometer.
‘I also noticed he had a bundle of tubes in the other hand and a blank form in front of him and I straight away questioned him as to what he was doing. His reply was that, “Oh, I’m just making up some numbers”. He looked embarrassed. I thought I caught him on the hop.
‘I automatically assumed that meant that he was falsifying the data. I said to the guard that what he was doing was morally and ethically wrong.’
The worker said she reported what she had seen to management but does not know what action has been taken since.
‘First of all, I spoke to the sergeant about it two days after their return on duty and told them what I had seen. They gave no reply or asked no questions about that.
‘I then reported the matter in July 2014 to the superintendent in that area along with more issues that I wanted to report.
‘I don’t know what actions they would’ve taken. I don’t know [if disciplinary action was taken]. I mean I did not make a statement about this so I don’t know if they were able to investigate it or not. I was asked if I wanted to but on advice given I opted not to.’
The woman said she believes the garda was falsifying figures and suspects the number of falsified breath tests could be greater than initially reported. ‘There were no other witnesses. It was just what I saw myself and what he admitted to me.
‘Yes, I do [believe he was falsifying figures]. I used my gut instinct and I assumed that that’s what he was doing.
‘I don’t think [there is a way of checking whether the figures were faked] and this is the point I’m trying to get across here
‘My belief is that the figures given, as in the 1.5million, could be way worse because this method, if used, is totally undetectable.’
A report released earlier this month found gardaí exaggerated the number of breath tests carried out by 1.45million over a seven-year period.
A Garda statement released last night said: ‘An Garda Síochána is determined to ensure that all the issues raised in relation to breath-tests are thoroughly addressed so they can’t happen again.
‘As part of this process, An Garda Síochána would once again urge anyone in the organisation – members and civilians – with information relating to breath-test issues or evidence of wrongdoing within An Garda Síochána to bring it forward to Assistant Commissioner O’Sullivan and the Policing Authority who are conducting their own examination into the breath-test issue.’
This follows comments by some Garda personnel to the media in recent days on such issues.
Reported officer to management