THE "stinger" device for stopping stolen cars should be in operation throughout the State within three weeks, the Garda has said. A spokesman said a number of gardai had already been trained in its operation and they would now start training other officers.
A political row has continued over use of the "stinger" - a portable spiked device which gardai can throw in front of a speeding car to puncture its tyres. Opposition parties blamed the Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, yesterday for not ensuring the Garda was aware that a new law governing the use of the device had come into force.
It arises from an incident in Cork last Monday night when two teenagers were struck by a stolen car. One died at the scene, the other died on Wednesday. Initially, the Garda said officers Were not allowed to use the "stinger" against car thieves unless they were involved in a more serious crime.
However, it emerged that legislation allowing use of the device - against car thieves had been signed by the President on March 4th. The Minister said her Department informed the Garda of this on March 10th.
Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats agreed yesterday it was the Minister's job to ensure that the new law was implemented by the gardai.
"It is not satisfactory to say that this is a matter for Garda management. TDs cannot question the Garda Commissioner, we can only question the Minister," said the Progressive Democrats justice spokeswoman, Ms Liz O'Donnell.
"It is clearly the function of the Minister for Justice to ensure that those operating at the coal face of the fight against crime are kept informed of the weapons at their, disposal," said the Fianna Fail Justice spokesman, Mr John O'Donoghue.
The Minister said that once the Garda was told a new law had come into force, it was up to the Garda authorities to decide how it should be implemented and to notify Garda divisions accordingly.