Gardaí arrest 137 people for drink and drug driving over bank holiday weekend

Gardaí issued a road safety alert on Monday as 137 motorists were arrested for intoxicated driving over the bank holiday weekend.

So far this year, 80 people have died on Irish roads, the worst on record in a decade.

Reporters invited by An Garda Síochána to a Garda road safety checkpoint on the M7 near Nenagh, Co Tipperary, saw officers arrest a man on suspicion of committing an offence under the Road Traffic Act, and transport him to a nearby Garda station.

Dozens of motorists were breathalysed at the scene to check for alcohol or drugs in their system.

Inspector Noel Barry, Tipperary and Clare Garda Roads Policing, said gardaí were “checking for alcohol or drugs and any other offences that might be disclosed”. He said the high numbers of arrests this weekend were “in line” with last year’s arrest figures.

“Over the weekend we have had people arrested for intoxicated driving. The figure up until 7am this morning was 137 people arrested for alcohol and or drug…