Gardaí to ramp up drug testing in Kilkenny

Local gardaí are set to ramp up roadside drug testing on foot of new data showing that approximately one in six roadside drug tests are returning a positive result, compared to approximately one in 180 roadside alcohol tests.

The statistic was relayed to public representatives at a meeting of the Joint Policing Committee this week.

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Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council Pat Fitzpatrick described the figure as ‘frightening’ and stated that it is ‘indicative of a wider problematic drug culture’.

Chief Superintendent Anthony Pettit has warned potential drug drivers that ‘the chances of you being caught is going to go way up’.

Cllr Deirdre Cullen told garda officials that ‘the problem is at epidemic levels’ and asked them if it would be possible to increase road policing efforts.

Reacting to councillors’ comments, Superintendent Aidan Brennan stated that gardaí ‘don’t want to give the impression that one in every six drivers is under the influence of drugs’ but that ‘the statistic is there’.

He noted that the statistic is likely influenced by the fact that gardaí have been very selective up until now with who is tested for drug driving, but that this will soon change as a new testing device has made it much quicker to get a result.

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Another point raised by garda officials was the fact that certain drugs remain detectable in drivers for much longer than alcohol.

Chief Superintendent Pettit said that local gardaí have committed to ramping up roadside drug testing locally.

Local Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Peter McConnon acknowledged that, looking towards the future, it’s likely that ‘more people are going to be caught drug driving than in possession of drugs’.