Latest news with #Lanestown
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Motorcyclist dies weeks after Dublin crash that killed police officer
The motorcyclist involved in a crash in which a garda (Irish police) officer was killed has died in hospital. The man in his 30s died on Saturday in Beaumont Hospital following the crash in Dublin on 11 May. It happened in Lanestown, in the north of the county, shortly before 13:00 local time. Garda Kevin Flatley, 49, died at the scene after he was hit by the motorcyclist whilst carrying out a speed checkpoint. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said he was deeply saddened by the death of his colleague and extended his sympathies to Mr Flatley's family and friends. Gardaí said it is providing support to both families involved. Garda killed at checkpoint adored by family, funeral told
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Motorcyclist dies following crash in Dublin that killed garda
The motorcyclist who was involved in a crash that saw a garda (Irish police) officer killed in Dublin last month, has died in man in his 30s died on Saturday in Beaumont hospital following the crash on May was riding a motorbike when he was involved in the crash in Lanestown, in the north of the county, shortly before 13:00 local time. Garda Kevin Flatley, 49, died at the scene after he was hit by the motorcyclist whilst carrying out a speed checkpoint. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said he was deeply saddened by the death of his colleague and extended his sympathies to Mr Flatley's family and said it is providing support to both families involved.
Irish Times
13-05-2025
- Irish Times
Garda Kevin Flatley death: Motorcyclist in collision makes slight improvement in hospital
A motorcyclist who was seriously injured in a collision which killed Garda Kevin Flatley (49) on Sunday has improved slightly. The roads policing garda was killed when he was struck by a motorcycle near Lanestown in north Dublin . The father of two was conducting a routine speed check when the collision occurred. The motorcyclist was thrown from the bike and suffered life-threatening injuries, including to his head. Passersby administered first aid and he was taken by ambulance to Beaumont Hospital , where he remains. The man, who is aged in his 30s, remains in a very serious condition but doctors believe he will survive, sources said. However, it will be some time before investigators will be able to take a statement from him. READ MORE Gardaí in Santry have obtained a large quantity of CCTV and dashcam footage of the road immediately before the collision. Footage from a CCTV camera on a nearby petrol station will form a key part of the investigation, sources say. The Garda is also planning to conduct a review of checkpoint procedures to identify any changes which may be required to safety policies. Garda Flatley had parked his official jeep by the side of the R132 at Lissenhall near Swords on Sunday morning and was operating a speed gun by the roadside. It is understood at 12.50pm he detected a motorcycle was breaking the 80km/h speed limit on the road and went to flag it down when the collision occurred. [ Garda Kevin Flatley was an 'absolute gentleman' who was 'always lending a hand', GAA club says Opens in new window ] The powerful Yamaha R1 1,000cc motorbike travelled for a significant distance following the collision and came to a rest on the opposite side of the road. The death of Garda Flatley came after a spate of incidents in which gardaí were injured on traffic duty. In the early hours of the morning of May 2nd, a garda on duty in Ardee, Co Louth, approached a suspicious-looking van that suddenly accelerated and hit him before leaving the scene. The garda suffered broken bones and required surgery. A man was later arrested. Earlier last week an on-duty garda was injured when he was hit by a car. Last Friday, another garda suffered a broken leg in Coolock, Co Dublin, when hit by a motorcycle. A suspect was arrested shortly afterwards. Last year, 70 gardaí were injured in road-traffic collisions, the second most common injury category after assaults. While road safety operations are inherently risky, several safety measures are put in place. Road policing gardaí undergo out-of-vehicle safety training, while risk assessments are conducted before a checkpoint is established at a location. The Datawrapper link: And the spreadsheet if anyone can add to it when they see fatalities: The Garda's newer speed guns also allow members to detect speeding at a greater distance, meaning they can stay farther back from traffic. However, gardaí often have to step closer to traffic to flag down motorists they have detected speeding. An incident review is to take place alongside the Garda investigation into Garda Flatley's death. It is likely to focus on the risk faced by gardaí conducting roadside speed checkpoints. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris , who said the incident calls for a 'real reset and rethink about our approach as society to road safety', joined colleagues and family members of Garda Flatley at a private service in Dublin Castle on Monday evening. Gardaí are continuing to appeal for information about Sunday's collision, including any information or footage relating to the movements of the motorcycle in the hour before the fatality.
BreakingNews.ie
12-05-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Garda colleagues gather for service in memory of Kevin Flatley
Garda officers and staff from across the country gathered in Dublin for a service to remember Kevin Flatley. Colleagues of the Garda who died after being struck by a motorcyclist on Sunday embraced in emotional scenes at Dublin Castle on Monday evening as they met ahead of the memorial service. Advertisement Those in attendance included colleagues both past and present from across Ireland who came to pay their respects, and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris (centre) arrives at Dublin Castle for the memorial service (Niall Carson/PA) Prayers were led by the Rev David Pierpoint and Father Joe Kennedy, both longstanding chaplains at An Garda Síochána. Mr Flatley, 49, died after being hit by a motorcycle as he was recording vehicles' speeds on the R132 at Lanestown on Sunday afternoon. President Michael D Higgins, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris are among those who have expressed their sympathies and shock following the death of the married father of two who had served for 26 years. Advertisement He was the 90th officer to die on duty since the creation of the force in 1922.
BreakingNews.ie
12-05-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Roads gardaí should not be exposed to ‘excessive danger', says minister
There is a need to ensure that road-policing gardaí are not exposed to 'excessive levels of danger', the Justice Minister has said following the death of an officer in the unit. Kevin Flatley died after being hit by a motorcycle as he was recording vehicles' speeds on the R132 at Lanestown on Sunday afternoon. Advertisement The scene on the R132 at Lanestown after the fatal crash. Photo: Garrett White/PA. The 49-year-old had served as a garda for 26 years and had been with the Roads Policing Unit since 2018. The married father-of-two was the 90th officer to die on duty since the creation of the force in 1922. President Michael D Higgins, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris extended their sympathies and spoke of the shock at his death. On Monday, Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan expressed his sympathies to Mr Flatley's family and colleagues in An Garda Síochána. Advertisement He said: 'When Garda Flatley went out to work yesterday morning, he went out in the same way as every guard goes out to work, which is to keep the community safe – and he was doing that in his role within the Roads Policing Unit. 'It was a terrible tragedy that he lost his life in the line of duty, but it emphasises, I suppose, the sacrifices and the danger associated with policing in Ireland. 'Sometimes we take it for granted. We think that it's a job which is the same as other jobs – it's not. 'Every day, members of An Garda Síochána put themselves personally in danger by carrying out their duty on behalf of the people of Ireland and it is a tragedy that Garda Flatley paid the ultimate price yesterday whilst performing his duty.' Advertisement Gardaí have appealed to anyone who saw the Yamaha R motorcycle involved in the crash from 12pm on Sunday onwards to contact investigators and aid their inquiries. An appeal for witnesses and those with relevant dashcam or video footage has also been made. Mr O'Callaghan said he would encourage anyone with camera footage to bring it to the attention of the active investigation into Mr Flatley's death. Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan expressed his sympathies to Kevin Flatley's family and colleagues in An Garda Siochana Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. Commissioner Harris pointed out that a different garda 'unbelievably' had his leg broken after being struck by a motorcycle on the same day, while another also suffered a broken leg after being hit by a vehicle in a separate incident a week earlier. Advertisement Asked about a review into roads policing, Mr O'Callaghan said members of the public need to look at their own behaviour 'in the first instance as opposed to' asking what gardai can do differently. 'We need to slow down. There is too much speed on our roads. There are too many lives being lost on our roads. 'And although An Garda Siochana are out there to enforce the law and to make the roads as safe as possible, primary responsibility rests on all of us to ensure that we're not driving excessively fast – that's something that's within all our control.' Asked about the dangers of roads policing raised by the Commissioner, Mr O'Callaghan said he will implement 'whatever new measures are required in order to ensure that gardai are kept as safe as possible during their roads policing'. Advertisement He told RTÉ's Morning Ireland: 'Obviously, it's an area that's also hugely dependent upon technology – we need to use technology as much as possible. 'A recently approved new contract for the use of more road traffic cameras, that's an area that can be as effective. 'But no matter what technologies we introduce, we're never going to get away from the fact that we want and we will need to have members of An Garda Siochana actively on the ground, policing the law and protecting the community. 'That's what Garda Flatley was doing yesterday. Tragically, he lost his life whilst doing it but his public service is commendable, and it's something that we should all sort of honor and reflect upon.' Asked what shape a review of roads policing should take in the wake of Garda Flatley's death, the minister said: 'We need to reflect upon: Are gardai being exposed to excessive danger?' An Garda Síochána block the R132 at Lanestown after officer Kevin Flatley was killed at a checkpoint. Photo: Garrett White/PA. Earlier, the vice president of the Garda Representative Association told the same programme that it represented a 'dreadful' day for the organisation. Niall Hodgins said Mr Flatley is remembered as a 'friend, colleague and teammate' who wore his uniform with 'dignity, courage and pride'. 'His colleagues have told me his presence enriched all the stations that he has served in – which I think included Roscommon, Blanchardstown and Pearse Street garda stations – prior to him joining the Roads Policing Unit, and his kindness, I understand, touched everybody that knew him,' he said. Mr Hodgkins described An Garda Siochana as a 'big family' of current, past and retired members, and added: 'I have been inundated with calls about Kevin's integrity, his values that he held dear, his dignity, his courage, his pride, and about Kevin's character himself.' He said the incident reminds people of the dangers of being a member of An Garda Síochána. Mr Flatley was also a member of the O'Dwyers GAA club in Balbriggan, where his daughters play. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris spoke about other incidents involving roads policing officers. Photo: Garrett White/PA. Club chairman Dave Rooney passed his condolences on to Mr Flatley's family and said: 'It's a terrible day for our club and the wider community of Balbriggan.' He said: 'Kevin was very active in the community and very active in the club. He added: 'He was always positive around the club, a positive influence and always smiling. He had a fantastic way about him within the club, and he was always willing to lend a hand and kind of helped where he could. 'You know, he obviously had significant commitments with the guards and his family, but when he had downtime, he was always there to give a dig out whenever he could.' Mr Rooney said Mr Flatley was 'very patient and very caring' when he worked as a coach with the club.
