Death of cyclist brings May toll on roads to 37

The death of a cyclist in Co Cavan on Saturday night brought to 37 the number of people killed on Irish roads in May, almost twice the number who died during the same month last year.

The May total is the highest monthly figure since July 2002, when 42 people lost their lives on Irish roads, four months before the penalty points system was introduced.

However, while the total deaths for May rocketed from 20 during the same month last year the Garda's Operation Taisteal, which began at midnight on Thursday, resulted in the Cavan death being the only fatality so far on the Bank Holiday weekend.

Mr Kevin Tuomey (26), of Garrysallagh, Mountnugent, was killed when his bicycle was involved in a collision with a car at Roebuck, Mountnugent, Co Cavan, at 10 p.m. on Saturday. Mr Tuomey was pronounced dead at the scene, and taken to Cavan General Hospital.

The 37-year-old male driver of the car was arrested at the scene for suspected drink driving. He was detained at Cavan Garda station. He was released, and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecution.

Operation Taisteal remained in full swing last night and continues until midnight tonight. Gardaí said more than 5,000 checkpoints would be manned around the country. Officers were continuing to target speeding, the non-wearing of seat belts and young driver behaviour.

Since yesterday, motorists faced incurring five points on their licences if detected driving without insurance. The offence has been added to speeding in the first extension of the points system since it was introduced last November by the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan.

From July 1st, not wearing a seat belt will also be included in the system, with drivers liable to two or four points. After that, only seven offences are likely to be added to the list before the new penalty points computer system comes on stream in around 12 months.

Moves to expand the system come after the Garda Representative Association and Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors have lobbied Mr Brennan to abandon any further roll-out of the penalty points until the new computer system is put in place.

Points are currently processed using a long-winded paperwork-based system. It means gardaí are tied up for long periods processing the points.

The new offences to be added in the next 12 months all require an offender to appear before the courts, meaning gardaí will not be required to process offenders. The rest of the 50 offences will not be added until the computer system is in place, which is expected to happen in the first half of next year.