THE European Commission
will begin hearing evidence today from the family of
Sinead McDaid from Carndonagh who died after her
vehicle went out of control on a straight stretch of
road near Culdaff village in June 2001.
The commission’s investigation team is to take
evidence from the Farren family from Co Donegal
tomorrow and will also take evidence from the
Gallagher family from Mayo who died when she lost
control of her car on a stretch of road at Mulranney,
Co Mayo in December 2005.
The move by the commission follows a request in June
from the EU’s Committee on Petitions that it begin
an investigation into the maintenance of
non-national roads here by local authorities.
The families’ evidence marks a milestone in their
long campaign to have the deaths of their daughters
fully investigated.
Speaking yesterday in advance of the EU petition
from Irish road safety campaigners, which will be
presented by bereaved families to the European
Parliament, MEP Jim Higgins insisted that central
Government must take action on the appalling
condition of many local roads.
MEP Higgins also called on the Government to
implement a vital EU Directive on Road
Infrastructure Safety Management as a priority.
“Too many local roads are in appalling condition.
The poor state of many of these roads has been
linked directly to a number of fatal road accidents.
We need urgent action to prevent further needless
loss of life. It's about time our Government stopped
dragging its heels and adopted a proactive approach
to road safety, and stopped ignoring the poor
condition of so many local roads.”
The MEP said he has worked closely with the Farren,
Gallagher and Keane families, whose petitions are
due to be heard in the European Parliament tomorrow.
“All three families tragically lost a daughter in
accidents, in circumstances where local authorities
have been accused of not providing adequate warning
signs for oncoming road hazards and speed
restrictions as required by the National Roads
Authority.”
He concluded: “How many lives need to be lost before
the Government puts pressure on local authorities to
meet their responsibilities and duties to the
public? Road traffic accidents are a major public
health problem. So far 2009 has seen 198 people
killed on both national and local roads. In spite of
this no action plan has been put in place to inspect
all public roads for safety defects. The Irish
people deserve better, they deserve safe roads.” |
