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Irish Independent
16-05-2025
- Irish Independent
‘Kevin's focus was always on helping people' – Taoiseach and President among thousands of people at funeral of Garda Flatley
Garda Kevin Flatley, who died on Sunday when he was struck by a motorcycle, was one of the most helpful men you could ever meet, mourners were told. President Michael D Higgins, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris, Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan and several other Government ministers were among those who attended requiem mass for the 49-year-old married father-of-two at St Peter and Paul's Church in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, on Friday afternoon. Garda Flatley, originally from Newcastle, Co Dublin, had served in the force for 26 years and had been with the Roads Policing Unit (RPU) since 2018. He died after being hit by a motorcycle as he was recording vehicle speeds on the R132 at Lanestown in north Co Dublin on Sunday afternoon. A motorcyclist, aged in his 30s, was seriously injured in the incident. Garda motorcycle colleagues from the Dublin Metropolitan Region's RPU were among those who formed a long guard of honour outside the church as the hearse arrived ahead of Friday's mass. Two members of the Garda led the cortege, one carrying the tricolour and the other the flag of An Garda Síochána. The bells of the church rang as the coffin arrived. A large number of uniformed gardaí walked to the church with fellow mourners, including Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Inside the church, as the service began, members of the Garda's Ceremonial Unit placed the tricolour on Garda Flatley's coffin, along with his cap and gloves. Several personal items were then placed at the altar to represent his life. They included a fiddle, jerseys from his club in Balbriggan, O'Dwyer's GAA, his hurl, a chocolate bar and a family Bible that he used to read to his two children, Aoife and Erin. Addressing mourners, Fr Dan Joe O'Mahony extended his condolences to Garda Flatley's widow Una and his two daughters Erin and Aoife. 'I've seen so many in tears the last few days,' he said. 'It's something when you see a guard crying – that does something to you. 'Kevin's life – one of the most helpful gentlemen you could meet, a coach at O'Dwyer's here in Balbriggan, a family man, a great guard, and I'm saying that without condition today, who left no stone unturned in his duty of care.' Speaking generally about road safety in Ireland, the cleric urged motorists to show 'courtesy'. 'Good friends, we as human beings today are asked, each one of us are asked, to share the roads,' he said. 'I don't own the roads. You don't. We share them together. We travel together and we have to show prudence and courtesy. Courtesy pays, good friends, I think all the time. It's vitally important, courtesy.' Members of the Irish Defence Forces, the PSNI and US custom officers based in Ireland all attended the funeral. Outside the packed-to-capacity church, a large crowd of mourners watched the service on big screens in a car park. A eulogy was delivered by Rosanna Caul, who was Garda Flatley's close colleague in Blanchardstown Garda Station. Garda Caul described her friend as a great 'family man'. 'On Sunday the 11th of May 2025, the lives of Una, Erin and Aoife were changed forever. They never imagined when Kevin went to work that he would not return home,' she said. She spoke of Garda Flatley's 'infectious smile and laughter' as she outlined his career progression in An Garda Síochána. 'We always knew that Kevin wanted to be part of the Roads Policing Unit,' she said. 'He was delighted to move there in 2018. Kevin always wanted to do the motorcycle course, and he was so happy when he achieved that goal. He loved working alongside his colleagues in the Roads Policing Unit and the family know how heartbroken his colleagues are. 'From the start of his career until now, Kevin's focus was always on helping people. Kevin had unconditional, positive regard for everyone he worked with and every member of the public he encountered.' Garda Caul said her colleague had always been the 'first to put his hand up to volunteer' in his local community, as she referenced his passion for coaching at O'Dwyer's GAA club. 'Kevin's drive with O'Dwyer's was for his daughters. Kevin was never happier than when he was supporting his girls playing and enjoying the game with their friends. Kevin was never all about winning. He was about participation, teamwork and being part of the community. Kevin is safe in the knowledge that the club and the game will remain a part of his girls' lives. 'Kevin was adored by everyone in his family, and the loss they are experiencing is heartbreaking. The family are so grateful to those who came to Kevin's aid on Sunday, and to everyone who has taken care of Kevin since this time. 'The support that Kevin's family have experienced since Sunday has been phenomenal.' Garda Caul said the Flatley family would never forget the 'unwavering' care, support and help offered by the Garda since Sunday's fatal crash. 'Kevin's family and friends are truly grateful for the privilege of having shared a life with him,' she concluded. 'Kevin's memory will never be forgotten. He is forever in his children's, family's and friends' hearts, and Kevin will always be cherished by everyone who knew him.' At the close of the service, members of the Garda Ceremonial Unit removed the tricolour from the coffin, folded it and presented it, along with his gloves and cap, to the family. Fellow coaches from O'Dwyer's GAA then placed a club flag on the coffin before it was carried out of the church. After the mass, Garda Flatley was taken onward to Newcastle Cemetery in Co Dublin for burial.
Irish Independent
13-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Six counties have no road fatalities as traffic deaths decline by 12pc this year
The decline came despite Garda Roads Policing Unit (RPU) personnel numbers remaining at near record lows. Sixty people have died on Irish roads so far this year. That contrasts to 68 who lost their lives in traffic tragedies by the same point last year. The deaths this year have included 24 drivers, 15 pedestrians, six passengers, 10 motorcyclists, four pedal cyclists and one pillion passenger. Almost one in three deaths this year have involved motorcyclists or pedal cyclists. Road safety campaigner group Parc conducted an analysis of crashes, which revealed road deaths were spread across 20 counties – three counties more than on March 1. Six counties – Clare, Kildare, Longford, Louth, Monaghan and Wicklow – have not recorded a road death so far this year. A total of 184 people died on Irish roads in 2023, the highest death toll for over a decade. Last year, a total of 174 people died in traffic tragedies. That represented a 4pc decline. Road safety chiefs have ordered studies into the varying nature of fatal crash statistics to better understand the reasons for surges and declines in fatalities. There have also been inexplicable regional variations in fatal collisions. Ireland's most populous county, Dublin, has recorded six road deaths so far this year. However, Galway and Donegal have also both recorded six traffic fatalities each this year despite having only a fraction of Dublin's population and traffic volumes. There have been seven fatalities this year in Mayo. Parc founder Susan Gray said their study revealed that 18 of the 60 people who died on Irish roads so far this year were aged 30 years or younger. She said the cornerstone of road safety was the strict enforcement of safety regulations and proper resourcing of the gardaí. 'There is an undeniable link between Road Policing Unit numbers, enforcement of road safety regulations and the safety of our roads,' she said. She said the priority for the Government should be the provision of maximum resources for the gardaí. Ms Gray said RPUs deserved enormous credit for the work they had achieved with depleted resources. RPU personnel numbers are 40pc down on 2009 levels. 'We desperately need to get the road safety message across and ensure that road safety regulations are rigorously enforced,' she said. 'But this includes all the stakeholders from the Government to state agencies and from prioritising recruitment to the gardaí to closing loopholes in the law and devoting the resources to road safety to reduce the number of fatalities.' August was the deadliest month on Irish roads in 2023, but was one of the safest last year. Ireland had 138 road deaths in 2018 – 29pc below last year's number. Since 2018, road deaths have steadily climbed: 2019 (140), 2020 (146), 2021 (130/Covid lockdowns), 2022 (155) and 2023 (184). Almost half the road deaths over the past 18 months have involved vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, bikers and e-scooter riders. An RSA submission to the Government last year noted that, in the space of five years, deaths among young people aged between 16 and 25 almost doubled. Overall, road users aged 16 to 25 represented the largest proportions of fatalities (26pc) and serious injuries (22pc) over the past year. The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) warned that frontline resources were a major issue for the force as it responded to multiple operational challenges. Gardaí insisted that 150 extra personnel would be deployed to RPU work nationwide by the end of this year. 'Gardaí do not comment on current or future deployment of resources for operational reasons,' a spokesperson said. 'An Garda Síochána (AGS) is committed to its aim to transfer 150 personnel into Roads Policing by the end of 2025. (We) commenced this allocation with the transfer of 23 garda members to RPUs during the second half of 2024. 'Competitions took place in three garda regions and panels are now in place across all four garda regions. Transfers from those panels will take place throughout 2025. Internal garda competitions are conducted by garda HR in accordance with agreements with the Garda Staff Associations,' the spokesperson added. 'Managing deployment of resources in a large national organisation such as AGS with over 560 garda stations throughout the country, and competing priorities such as roads policing, economic crime, drugs and organised crime, cyber crime and maintaining frontline policing is a complex process.' In 2014 there were 192 road deaths when there were 742 assigned RPU members. In 2017 there were 154 deaths when there were 623 assigned RPU members.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Drivers urged to be safe after 22 fatal crashes on Essex roads so far this year
ESSEX Police are urging people to stay safe on the roads after 22 fatal crashes so far in 2025 – a 'horrific' number. Officers policing the roads in Essex have had to deliver the 'worst possible news' to 22 families already this year, as 22 people have died as a result of 16 collisions. This means there have been an average of more than five deaths per month in less than four months on the roads in Essex. On Saturday, April 12, officers from the Roads Policing Unit (RPU) who regularly patrol the county's highways were conducting speed checks on the A12. Across a 30-minute period, four vehicles were captured travelling at speeds of more than 100mph, with one vehicle clocking in at 123mph. Each offender will receive a court summons. Safe - Adam Pipe, head of the Roads Policing Unit, said he is appalled by the shocking number of deaths (Image: Essex Police) Adam Pipe, the head of roads policing in Essex Police, said: 'Officers policing our roads have had to deliver the worst possible news to 22 families already this year. 'This is a truly shocking number that I personally am appalled by. 'To then see drivers reaching speeds of more than 120mph on our roads, displaying such disregard for human life, is a slap in the face. 'We've seen a horrific number of serious collisions on our roads already this year. 'For me, one death is always one too many. 'Behind each statistic is a family, changed forever, and in some cases, this is down to the selfish actions or split-second mistakes of road users. 'This has also taken a huge toll on our officers, who are people too, and who have had to deliver some heartbreaking messages.' The RPU is taking part in Operation Limit, which sees traffic units deployed on targeted patrols in specific areas of the county. Also on Saturday, April 12, across a 10-hour period alone, this operation identified 139 offences and saw 14 arrests on the roads around the Chelmsford area, with 17 vehicles seized. Of the arrests, 11 were for drink or drug driving. One of the arrests, at Maldon Road, Hatfield Peverel, saw cocaine recovered from a Jaguar and a man arrested for a litany of offences. He was questioned on suspicion of drink and drug driving, driving without insurance or a full licence and possession of Class A drugs and released under investigation while inquiries continue. As part of Operation Tramline, officers use an HGV on loan from National Highways. The height of the cab allows officers to see into other lorry cabins or down into cars in a lower level to observe if drivers are on their phones. Under this operation, officers caught several drivers looking at their phones while behind the wheel on the roads of Essex. One woman did so while carrying five children in the vehicle. Ahead of the Easter weekend, Mr Pipe is urging drivers to recognise the dangers their reckless speed can pose to the public. He said: 'We're more proactive than ever in patrolling our roads and catching irresponsible drivers, but it does feel like we're fighting against the tide. 'There's only so much we can do, and we're out there policing the roads of Essex 24 hours a day. 'My personal plea is for the public, the majority of which I know are responsible drivers, to take care on our roads as you travel this Easter holiday. 'If you've had a drink, don't drive. Think before you travel, designate a driver. 'If you're late or in a rush, don't resort to speeding, it's not worth the devastating cost. 'That phone call or text message can always wait. 'Be aware of your surroundings, watch for motorcycles and cyclists, take an hour longer to plan your journey. 'These are the simple things you can do to help ensure we don't lose another life on our roads.'
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Rochester water main break closes additional portion of Broadway Avenue Wednesday
Apr. 9—ROCHESTER — A water main break has closed an additional portion of North Broadway Avenue on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. A contractor working near the Recreation Center on North Broadway struck a water main, causing a "large break" around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to a Facebook post from Rochester Public Utilities. RPU crews are on-site and "working quickly to resolve the issue." North Broadway is closed between Elton Hills Drive and 16th Street. Traffic is being detoured on 17th Street Northeast, Second Avenue Northeast and 16th Street Northeast. RPU asks people to follow the detour and plan for extra travel time. North Broadway from 13th to 16th streets, near the Silver Lake bridge to the Rochester Recreation Center, has been closed due to the multi-year project of reconstructing intersections and sidewalks. The closure with vehicle and pedestrian detours is in place until mid-April. RPU also shared these notes of impact for Wednesday: * Customers in the impacted area may experience rusty or discolored water. * Parts of North Broadway may be without water temporarily. * RPU crews will flush the system in the area to help clear things up as soon as possible. What people can do: * If you notice discolored water, try to limit water use if possible. * When needed, use cold water only.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Yahoo
Drivers snared on M4 as police patrol in crackdown operation
Police have been cracking down on rule breaking drivers on the M4 in an operation that snared multiple offenders. Officers from Wiltshire Police's Roads Policing Units (RPU) and the Serious Collision Investigation Team (SCIT) have been patrolling the M4 in Wiltshire as part of Operation Tramline during the week of Monday, February 10. Across the week, police have been on the lookout for drivers on the motorway committing any of the fatal five offences that increase the likelihood of a crash. These offences include speeding, drink and drug driving, using a phone while driving, not wearing a seatbelt, and careless or dangerous driving. READ MORE: Traffic builds on one of town's busiest roads after incident Be the first to know with the Swindon Advertiser📱 Our flash sale brings the latest local happenings directly to you. Take advantage of our exclusive offer of over 40% off an annual subscription - #SpecialOffer — Swindon Advertiser (@swindonadver) February 13, 2025 Police say multiple offenders have been caught committing a range of offences on the motorway during their patrols. These have included using a phone, not being in control of their vehicle, and driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition. Previous iterations of Operation Tramline have seen police use an unmarked HGV on patrols and this appears to have been the case again. A spokesperson for the force said: 'RPU & SCIT have been patrolling the M4 looking for fatal five offences this week. 'Numerous offences dealt with, including mobile phone use, not in proper control, dangerous condition, overweight vehicles.'
