50 people arrested daily in drink-drive campaign

Almost 50 people are being arrested each day for suspected drink-driving in the run-up to Christmas, according to Garda figures.

Over the past week, 320 people were arrested for suspected drink-driving, bringing to 885 the number arrested since a Garda clampdown began three weeks ago. The figure is up 13 per cent over the same period in 2003.

Some 1,159 drivers have been breath-tested under the Garda operation - a 40 per cent increase over last year.

The clampdown coincides with an increase in road deaths. Twenty-six people have been killed this month - double the number killed in the same period last year. This year 375 people have died so far - the highest death toll in three years and an increase of 40 over 2003.

The latest fatality was yesterday in Co Tipperary. Ms Anne McInerney (42), Templemore, died after the car she was driving collided with the rear of a parked lorry at about 1.30 a.m. at Brittas Road, Thurles.

Her daughter, Eileen (19), who was a front-seat passenger, sustained serious injuries in the collision and was brought to Our Lady's Hospital in Cashel where she was being treated in intensive care. They were making their way home after a night out in Thurles.

Eileen's brother, Michael (22), drowned last May while watering a horse in Killea reservoir near Templemore.

Meanwhile, the woman who was killed when the van she was driving was in collision with a truck near Mulrany, Co Mayo, on Wednesday has been named as Ms Aisling Gallagher (22), from Askill, Achill Island.

Ms Gallagher, who recently completed legal studies at Letterkenny GMIT, was due to fly to the United States on St Stephen's Day. She was travelling from Achill to a bank to exchange currency in preparation for the trip when the accident occurred.

Gardaí meanwhile have advised motorists to take special care during the expected cold snap in the coming days.

The warning was also sounded by the insurance company AXA, which said poor weather conditions and the decrease in daylight hours normally resulted in a rise in home and motor insurance claims.

Mr Dermot Devlin, the company's marketing manager, said it paid thousands of claims every year which were directly or indirectly linked to the winter weather conditions, "from sudden ground frosts and flooding from rainy and stormy conditions, to dazzling sunshine and icy road conditions".

The company advised homeowners to check smoke alarms and to ensure pipes are properly insulated. Cyclists and pedestrians should wear light clothing and reflectors to aid visibility, while motorists should "never drink and drive, drive within the speed limit and at a speed suitable to the road conditions, and always wear a seat belt".

Traffic is expected to be heavy today in city centre areas and around out-of-town shopping centres due to last-minute shopping. According to the Automobile Association, primary routes across Ireland could be busy this morning but should ease as the day progresses.

Iarnród Éireann expects to carry up to 400,000 people on Intercity rail services over Christmas and the new year.

Ports and airports are also bracing themselves for a final wave of arrivals and departures.

The ferry company Stena Line said it would be transporting more than 105,000 passengers and 31,000 cars across the Irish Sea during the holiday period.

The company's communications manager, Mr Eamonn Hewitt, said this had been one of the busiest festive periods yet for Stena across all five of its Irish Sea routes.