Latest news with #Forensic
Irish Daily Mirror
30-04-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Massive deficit in Gardai needed to investigate road deaths, GRA conference told
The Garda unit that investigates fatal road smashes has fewer than half the number of officers the organisation's own roads policing experts recommend, it has emerged. The annual conference of the Garda Representative Association, which represents some 11,200 members of the force, also heard that the specialist officers are having to drive all over the country on jobs - with one garda being sent from Tipperary to north Donegal. The conference heard on Tuesday that the National Roads Policing Bureau says there should be 24 forensic collision investigators - but there are only 11. And the conference, held in Killarney, Co Kerry, heard that means the specially-trained officers have such a massive workload that they cannot provide the service they want to. The association is now calling for more investigators to be appointed. Garda Shane Bonner, who is based in south central Dublin and represents FCIs, or Forensic Collision Investigators, based at the roads policing section in Dublin Castle, says the problem needs fixing urgently. He said: "We're seeing a huge shortage of FCIs, the forensic collision investigators in the organisation at the moment.. "We're falling really, really short in what we're doing and what the service that the Garda Siochana are providing. "People are waiting for answers. We have a fatal accident, and people are waiting for the answers... They want to know what happened, how it happened. The outcomes. "The workload is so heavy at the moment on the FCIS that they're snowed under. "We have 11 FCIs in the country at the moment. There's a Garda Roads Policing Bureau recommendation of a minimum of 24." He also revealed that one FCI probed 18 fatal accidents in a year - three times what he should have. And he added that a competition for officers to start working as FCIs collapsed - and gardai were not told why. He said: "We had a competition which collapsed because, well, we don't really know why. It just stopped. "Management sent out a quick note to the people that were in it, saying, 'Sorry, this competition hasn't met standards, and we've stopped it.' "We have our 11 FCIs that have been dragged all over the country. "We're potentially losing evidence. We're leaving scenes closed for longer. We're not doing the best that we can, we aren't giving the service that we need to be giving. "The reason for that is very simple: Garda management. "The commissioner isn't giving us the FCIs. It's been run into the ground. "We have members that can't do the work now that they're just so snowed under. "One member last year did 18 fatal accidents; the recommended number is five to six in a year. So he has three times the workload. "How do you produce proper files and proper investigations to the coroner's court, to the family, to everyone that deserves the proper information?" And he said there was an easy solution to the problem. He said: "It's a very simple fix. This isn't complicated. We're not calling for a whole new departure. We're calling for proper numbers of specifically trained and qualified experts that can do it." Garda Chris O'Mara, who is an FCI based in Tipperary, told the conference he was the only expert available in the entire country to deal with a fatal crash - and was sent from his home base to north Donegal, a journey of more than 300 kilometres. He said: "It was Saturday morning when I got the call. "I could have got in the car there and then and gone, but I would have been then arriving into a dark scene, which would have made the investigation difficult or impossible, depending on the scenario that I would have encountered. "Instead, I left at three o'clock in the morning. I arrived there for first light. "I did the investigation over the course of the day, and finished it around four o'clock that day. "The collision had occurred at 10 o'clock on the Friday night, and it was Sunday morning, half seven, I think by the time I arrived at the scene. "I was told I was the only investigator available in the country." Garda Bonner said that case highlighted a serious problem. He said: "When you have an investigator that's travelling from Tipperary to north Donegal, just to do a scene, this is an unbelievable shortfall. "He's (then back) down in Tipperary trying to deal with the guards in Donegal who are dealing with the investigation, and not being able to just walk into the office or call in and see. "There's conferences, there's everything held. He won't be able to go back to Donegal. The actual service that is available, then is completely crushed and not working. It doesn't work." Garda O'Mara also revealed that the officer who was the force's senior National Forensic collision investigator resigned in 2023 - and the vacancy has not been filled. He said: "That role has been vacant since he resigned in 2023. "So for more than two years now, we've had no senior forensic collision investigator in the country." A Garda spokesman told us a preliminary process was under way prior to announcing a new competition for FCIs in the near future.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Shanaya Kapoor pens heart-melting note for 'mumma' Maheep on 43rd b'day
Picture Credit: X On her mother's 43rd birthday on Tuesday, debutante Shanaya Kapoor has penned a heartwarming note for her Maheep. Shanaya took to Instagram, where she shared a then and now picture with Maheep. The photos featured the mother-daughter duo from their younger days and now. The throwback image had a young Maheep carrying her baby Shanaya on her shoulders. The recent photograph had the two looking glamorous as they posed for a picture together. For the caption, Shanaya wrote: "Happy birthday mumma, love u forever." Shanaya is all set to make her debut with ' Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan '. The film also stars Vikrant Massey . Directed by Santosh Singh, the movie is based on Ruskin Bond 's cherished short story, "The Eyes Have It." While Shanaya will be seen in the role of a theater artist, Vikrant will play a blind musician in his next. The script for 'Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyaan' has been penned by acclaimed writers Niranjan Iyengar and Mansi Bagla. Produced by Mansi and Varun Bagla's Mini Films, the movie marks the production's second collaboration with Vikrant, after the 'Forensic' remake. Apart from 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan,' Shanaya is also expected to appear in the upcoming web series " Student of the Year ," backed by Dharma Productions . She also has ' Tu Yaa Main ' with Adarsh Gourav by Bejoy Nambiar. The movie is touted to be an adrenaline-charged experience that seamlessly blends love, primal terror, and survival. It has been produced by Colour Yellow, the banner behind films like 'Tumbbad' and 'Haseen Dillruba.' Set for a Valentine's Day 2026 release, 'Tu Yaa Main' is believed to be a gripping, genre-blending ride. It was announced on March 12 that Shanaya Kapoor has started shooting with Abhay Verma for Shujaat Saudagar's new film in Goa.
Sunday World
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- Sunday World
Motorcyclist (20s) in ‘critical but stable' condition after emergency surgery following crash
It's understood the man sustained a number of serious injuries including a broken leg after his motorcycle collided with a car close to a junction beside the local cemetery A motorcyclist in his 20s has undergone emergency surgery following a two vehicle crash on the outskirts of Longford town yesterday. A motorcyclist is in intensive care after undergoing emergency surgery in hospital following a two vehicle crash in Longford yesterday evening. He was rushed to Tullamore's Midland Regional Hospital before being transferred to Dublin's Mater Hospital in the wake of the incident which took place at Mullaghavorneen, close to Ballymacormack Cemetery at around 6pm. Emergency services attended to the scene a short time later and despite initial efforts to airlift the man to hospital, a decision was ultimately taken to transport him via ambulance. It's understood the man sustained a number of serious injuries including a broken leg after his motorcycle collided with a car close to a junction beside the local cemetery. He has since undergone emergency surgery and is currently in the Mater Hospital's intensive care unit. Sources had described the man's condition as being '50-50' last night, however the Irish Independent understands medics are hopeful those permutations will improve over the coming days. The Irish Independent understands the man's condition is being termed as 'critical but stable' as gardaí now press ahead with an investigation to determine the precise nature surrounding yesterday evening's incident. It's also understood the man, who is in his 20s, hails from the south Longford area. The road itself, the L1127, was closed for a number of hours last night and again today to allow for a technical examination to be carried out. 'Gardaí and emergency services responded to a collision involving a car and a motorcycle on a local road in Mullaghavorneen, Longford, shortly after 6pm on Monday, 21st April, 2025,' said a garda spokesperson. 'The motorcyclist, a man in his 20s, was (taken) from the scene with serious injuries to Tullamore Hospital. 'The L1127 at Mullaghavorneen is currently closed to allow for an examination by Forensic Collision Investigators. Local diversions are in place.'
