28,183 breath checkpoints have been conducted on Cork’s roads since April last year, compared with just 5,263 in Dublin. Picture Dan Linehan

Drivers in Cork more likely to be stopped for breath test than those in Dublin

MOTORISTS in Cork are five times more likely to get stopped at a mandatory breath-test checkpoint than drivers in Dublin, according to figures released by the Minister for Justice, Charlie Flanagan.

28,183 breath checkpoints have been conducted on Cork’s roads since April 13 last year, compared with just 5,263 in Dublin.

The Mandatory Intoxication Test checkpoints incorporate breath-testing for alcohol and oral fluid-testing for drugs, including cannabis, cocaine, morphine, opiates, heroin and benzodiazepines.

There were 8,855 checkpoints held in Cork city, 9,681 in Cork North, and 8,647 in Cork West.

In Cork city, four oral fluid tests were done for drugs, with just one positive.

In Cork North, there were 55 such tests, with eight positive.

Cork West had the highest number of drug tests, at 124, with 13 positive.

There were 23,959 people breathalysed in Cork city in that period, with 119 failing the test.

In Cork North, 95 out of 21,023 people tested failed, and in Cork West, 118 out of 21,118 failed.

The figures were provided to Independent TD, Tommy Broughan.

Road safety campaigner Christina Donnelly, whose son Brendan was killed at Castlemartyr by a drink driver, eight years ago this week, welcomed the high number of roadside tests being carried out in Cork.

However, she questioned whether roads near rural pubs are being targeted enough by gardaí to nab drink drivers.

“I think every step is an improvement, as it will save lives on the roads. I would plead with gardaí to get as many out there on the roads as possible.”

But she added: “Up to recently, I’ve seen very few gardaí on the roads.”

An Garda Síochána has conducted 101,965 MIT checkpoints nationally since April, 2017.