Wrong-way motorway driving 'akin to attempted murder', says MEP

The Government is facing mounting pressure to toughen penalties for wrong-way driving on motorways.

Politicians are calling for mandatory custodial sentences for motorists who deliberately drive against the flow of traffic, with one MEP saying the act was akin to attempted murder.

The Government has confirmed it is considering new legislation, following two incidents within a week on the M50 and M9, which resulted in the deaths of five teenagers and injuries to more than 10 other people.

On Monday, the Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said the Government were considering a new criminal offence targeting people who deliberately drive the wrong way on a motorway.

However, politicians are already calling for severe penalties for the proposed offence, with MEP Billy Kelleher saying deliberate wrong-way driving was "akin to attempted murder".

“It’s clear that the existing legal framework for dealing with wilfully negligent driving such as driving down the wrong side of the motorway is not fit for purpose and must be amended to reflect the seriousness of such crimes,” the Fianna Fáil MEP said.

“Anyone driving deliberately down the wrong side of a motorway is putting other people’s lives at risk, and the punishment must reflect that. It’s akin to attempted murder in my opinion," Kelleher said.

“Applying penalty points to licences many of these criminals don’t have is futile. Crimes, and they are most clearly crimes, of this nature must result in a custodial sentence to reflect the severity of the crime."

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín also called for a mandatory custodial sentence.

"It is an action with a lethal weapon, which will very likely lead to death or very serious injury, akin to manslaughter if a person dies, in my view," he said.

It's likely to be several weeks before the Government indicates what form the proposed legislation could take, with the Dáil not due to sit again until mid-September.