Wrong-way driving set to become a standalone offence after M9 crash

Why wrong-way driving will be a separate charge

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said those who drive the wrong way up a motorway will end up “in jail or in a grave”.

The five died when their car travelled the wrong way up the M9 and collided head-on with a car heading for Dublin Airport.

The three women and one child in that car, travelling to a family wedding in Britain, remain in hospital in a serious condition.

On Newstalk Breakfast, Irish Sun crime editor Stephen Breen said a standalone offence would have victims’ support, because existing charges, reckless driving, dangerous driving, causing death by dangerous driving, do not single out the behaviour.

Pressure grew after footage circulated of a car driven against the flow of traffic on a Cork motorway less than 24 hours after the M9 collision.

As reported by the Irish Mirror, the clip shows the car narrowly missing two lorries.

It follows a summer of enforcement drives, from a bank holiday Garda speeding operation to a run of Garda seizures in Dublin.

Tara McManus, Assistant General Secretary of the Garda Representative Association, spoke on The Last Word with Matt Cooper.

She said: "This morning I saw a video of a car being driven the wrong way down the motorway in Cork, literally only 24 hours after five young men were killed."

Pursuit training promised for Gardaí

O’Callaghan said Gardaí would get “whatever resources they require”, and confirmed the Commissioner will introduce pursuit training to An Garda Síochána for the first time.

Legislation strengthening Garda protections during pursuits is being prepared alongside the new offence.