DPP decides no prosecution

THE FATHER of a young Co Mayo woman killed in a collision with another vehicle has expressed disappointment at the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) not to pursue a prosecution. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) submitted a file on its three-year investigation into the death of Aisling Gallagher to the DPP in September.

Ms Gallagher died in a collision with another vehicle on the N59 Achill to Westport road on December 22nd, 2004. The HSA investigated because work had recently been carried out on the section of the N59 where the crash occurred and it was deemed a place of work. Aisling’s father, Tommy Gallagher, last night commended the HSA for its work and said it highlighted the difficulties facing families of those killed in a crash when seeking information.

“Every agency you would expect to be involved in this area – the Road Safety Authority and the National Roads Authority – is actually backing away from it,” he said.

Mr Gallagher said it appeared the use of the temporary road surface dense bitumen macadam (DBM) was “becoming less common” and said “at least some good had come from raising the issue”.

In judgment on a test case in October, High Court judge Mr Justice John Hedigan ruled that the HSA had “no role” in relation to the safety and health of road users.