Judge criticises Garda chiefs’ refusal to send speeding notices by registered post

A judge has criticised the “blank, mule-ish refusal” by Garda chiefs to hear his plans on overhauling the rules on prosecuting motorists suspected of speeding, the Irish Independent reports.

Judge Patrick Durcan at Ennis District Court made the comments after he struck out “Go Safe’ prosecutions because drivers did not receive fixed charge penalty notices.

The judge previously said that if gardaí registered these notices in the post there would be proof they had been received.

One motorists who was alleged to have driven at 112km in 100km zone at Cratloe on the Ennis-Limerick route said they never received a notice.

Judge Durcan replied: “I am not going to waste time on this – strike out.”

He told local garda inspector, Paul Slattery: “Let the Commissioner understand that there is something called registered post – you might tell her that.”

He added: “It is a few little things that are causing irritation and this is one that is causing so much damage. Please contact the Commissioner’s office on my behalf to communicate my concerns over the registered post issue.”