THE DEPUTY First Minister’s chauffeurs have been involved in more car crashes while driving government vehicles than all other government departments in Northern Ireland put together, it has been revealed.
Martin McGuinness’s car, which is driven by members of Sinn Féin as opposed to civil servants as with Ministers from other parties, has had five crashes since the restoration of devolution in 2007, including three in 2009.
In total, Sinn Féin ministerial drivers have been involved in six crashes since 2007, while only one civil service driver has been involved in a crash during the same period.
First Minister Peter Robinson’s car has not been in any crashes in the timeframe.
Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act show that as well as Mr McGuinness’s Skoda Superb vehicle, the other Sinn Féin incident involved then education minister Caitríona Ruane’s driver reversing into a wall. The only other crash involving a ministerial car was a driver for DUP Minister for Finance Sammy Wilson colliding with another vehicle at a junction.
Half of the crashes involving Sinn Féin drivers were reported to have been either fully or partially the fault of that driver, while the other half recorded a third party as being at fault.
Mr Wilson’s driver’s incident involved equal fault.
Sinn Féin is given special dispensation from the Stormont Executive to use its own drivers as opposed to civil servants.
Each Minister has a main driver and a reserve one.
Jim Allister, leader of the hardline Traditional Unionist Voice, said the news showed “the expensive folly of pandering to Sinn Féin” on the issue of ministerial drivers.
“If they want their own drivers, then let them provide their own cars from Sinn Féin funds and then how many times they crash will not affect the public purse,” he said.
“The sop to Sinn Féin to have their own henchmen as ministerial drivers is costing the public dear, because of their higher accident record. It is another reason why this nonsense should be stopped.”
When The Irish Timescontacted the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, they declined to comment on the high number of crashes.
Likewise, a Sinn Féin spokesperson said the party would not be commenting, brushing it off as a “non-story”.