MY HEALY-RAGE
Distraught mum slams ‘selfish’ TDS who have delayed drink-drive law
A MOTHER whose son was killed by a drunk driver has accused rural TDS of insulting his memory by opposing new road safety legislation.
Christina Donnelly backed Road Safety Authority chief Liz O’donnell who hit out at “disgraceful and selfserving” politicians for delaying the Bill.
Kerry TD Danny Healyrae, who opposes the legislation, told the Dail last week “a pint-and-a-half of beer never made anyone drunk”.
The amendment to the Road Traffic Bill calls for automatic disqualification for drivers for their first offence if they’re over the limit of 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.
Ms O’donnell issued a strongly-worded statement accusing TDS of “showing utter contempt for road safety” by claiming the Bill would damage rural areas.
She said “delay tactics” and allowing the debate to descend into “farce and filibuster” was costing lives.
Christina lost her 24-yearold son Brendan when the car he was travelling in was struck head-on by a vehicle travelling on the wrong side of the road in October 2009. The 64-year-old told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “I think that it’s one of the biggest insults that has ever come out of the Dail. Do they realise the heartache they are causing? “It’s an insult not alone to Brendan’s memory but to all the families who struggle with the pain and grief of losing a loved one to a drunk driver. “When it comes to cutting a ribbon, kissing a baby, shaking an old person’s hand or even going to a funeral the same TDS are first in the queue. “But when it comes to such important legislation, which is about saving people’s lives, we have to listen to this same old tired argument about rural isolation. “What we’re hearing is extremely selfish and selfopinionated. It makes me extremely angry. Have they no conscience?” The Waterford woman is pursuing a law change in her son’s name and is calling for stricter penalties for drink-drivers after Brendan was killed in a crash on his way to Cork Airport. Motorist Anthony Long fled the scene but was later convicted and jailed. He admitted downing 11 cans of beer, seven pints, two vodkas and three shots as well as doing a line of cocaine before getting behind the wheel.
It’s one of the biggest insults that has ever come out of the Dail CHRISTINA DONNELLY WATERFORD