LEARNER DRIVER IS FOUND GUILTY

PRISON officers are soon set to be subject to random mandatory drug tests, we can reveal.

Staff across Ireland’s 12 prisons will be expected to partake in the tests with a proposal to conduct the tests randomly to ensure no one can prepare.

The plan is to root out any illegal drug taking among prison staff and is being proposed as part of ongoing pay talks between union bosses and the Irish Prison Service.

Sources have confirmed that meetings have been held in recent weeks between members of the Prison Officers Association (POA) and bosses at the Irish Prison Service (IPS) on finalising the plan in the coming days.

Sources say there is widespread agreement within the POA that mandatory drug testing be implemented, and officers are now working out the finer details of how to implement it.

Concerns

“The idea is to root out any illegal drug taking on the job and to improve the service,” a well-placed source said.

“There are also valid concerns that if someone is taking drugs on the job, then they have the potential to be facilitating that to prisoners as well.

“Although it seems strict, most staff are welcoming the idea and see it as long overdue.”

And in a statement to The Star, the Irish Prison Service confirmed that it has put forward a plan to implement a drug testing policy.

“The Irish Prison Service recently pub

A WOMAN has been convicted of causing serious injuries to a cyclist after running her over while driving unaccompanied as a learner driver.

Paulina Galantkiewicz (34) told the trial that she “basically panicked” after realising her car had collided with someone, hit the accelerator instead of the brakes and drove over the cyclist on the ground.

Galantkiewicz of Belmont Park, Raheny, had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Thames Aline Taveres (34) at Oak Road, Clondalkin, on June 1, 2018.

She has no previous lished a Reform Action Plan, as part of the National pay agreement, Building Momentum; this includes, the Implementation of an illicit substance abuse policy which will be underpinned by a testing policy.

“The Irish Prison Service is currently engaging with the relevant stakeholders with a view to finalising a policy for implementation across the prison estate,” it said.

The development comes as it emer ged last month that mandatory drug testing for Garda members is expected to be in place by the end of the year.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris wants to introduce mandatory drug testing for both sworn Garda members and civilian staff under the new Garda AntiCorruption Unit. convictions.

On the second day of the trial yesterday, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on the sole count after deliberating for an hour and a half.

Judge Martin Nolan remanded Galantkiewicz on continuing bail and adjourned the matter for sentencing on October 29, next.

Plea

The trial heard that Galantkiewicz had offered a guilty plea to careless driving causing serious bodily injury, but that this plea was not acceptable to the State so she now stood trial on the more serious

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charge.

During the trial, Galantkiewicz told Dominic McGinn SC, defending, that on the date in question, she had attended a job interview and was driving home afterwards at the time of the incident.

Galantkiewicz said she remembered it was raining and that the weather was “really bad”.

She said she was driving slowly as she approached the junction, checked both sides and did not see anybody.

She said she first realised a cyclist was there when she felt something bump her car and tried to help after the collision, where she stayed until the ambulance arrived.