Gardaí cancel more than 900 speeding fines on stretch of N25 due to ‘human error'

Irish Examiner

5 days ago

Gardaí have cancelled nearly 1,000 speeding fines due to what they described as a 'human error.'
Penalty points were issued with 914 fixed charge notices to motorists detected speeding by static safety cameras on a stretch of the N25 in Kilkenny between May 30 and June 30.
However, when motorists received their fixed charge notices, the listed location of the speeding offence was incorrect, instead bearing the name of a nearby area.
'This error is a result of human error when inputting the offence location onto the processing system,' a statement from An Garda Síochána.
Of the 914 fixed charge notices issued, 128 were paid with penalty points applied, and a further 56 were paid before penalty points were processed.
The remaining 730 notices were unpaid and had no penalty points applied.
Gardaí have begun contacting all affected motorists to inform them that the fines and penalty points are being revoked.
The error came to light after a query, which led to the discovery that the wrong location had been listed on the notices.
'The error was rectified immediately upon its discovery on the 30th June 2025 and the Static Safety Camera resumed operations with detections from the 4th July 2025 being valid,' it said.
'An Garda Síochána takes full responsibility for this error and have completed a review of all offence locations associated with Static and Average Safety Cameras.
'This error only affected the static camera on the N25.'
Additional oversight measures will now be introduced to verify offence locations on the fixed charge notice processing system before any new static or average speed cameras go live.
The Gardaí have informed the Department of Justice, the Policing and Community Safety Authority, the Road Safety Authority, and the Safety Camera Board about the incident.
Refunds will be issued and penalty points removed where necessary. There will also be no summonses for non-payment of the incorrectly issued fines.
"An Garda Síochána is very conscious of our statutory responsibility for road safety and is committed to delivering a professional policing service to enforcement of speeding via a variety of speed safety cameras,' said Chief Superintendent Roads Policing David Harrington.
'This error is very much regretted. An Garda Síochána continues to work steadfastly with all our partners in Road Safety, endeavouring to reduce the human toll of road deaths and serious injuries on our roads.'