Gardaí who do not want to carry out road policing should resign, a former Sergeant has suggested. 

It is understood that the Crowe Report has found that a substantial number of Gardaí have ignored instructions to carry out regular road policing. 

🗨️"Somebody dies every two days on our roads, so the idea that some gardaí are deciding not to enforce the rules of the road is quite extraordinary."

A new report shows that a number of gardaí assigned to Roads Policing are not doing their jobs and are 'openly hostile' about not… pic.twitter.com/l2sIVau72N

— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) August 1, 2025

The instruction was issued to Gardaí in a bid to reduce the high number of people dying and being seriously injured in crashes across the country. 

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has described the report as “sobering” and promised to publish it. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, former Garda Sergeant Christy Galligan said, while he has not seen the full report, he believes that it is important not to “tarnish” the whole force with the views of a few members.

“I want to know the reason behind it,” he said. 

“Those members who are openly hostile, I’d like to be interviewing those members who are openly hostile and finding out why they are openly hostile? 

“What are their reasons for saying what they’re saying?”

Mr Galligan continued that Gardaí’s renewed focus on road policing had led to an increase in the number of arrests for drinking and dangerous driving.  

At the same time, there has been a slight reduction in the number of road deaths this year, in comparison to 2024. 

Gardaí at the scene of a crash. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

“We would like to reduce them even further if possible,” Mr Galligan said. 

“We know here in Donegal, we’ve had our fair share of tragedies in road traffic accidents.” 

A Garda sign is seen on the southbound N7 leaving Dublin following a crash. Picture by: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo / Liam McBurney

Were he still working in An Garda Síochána, Mr Galligan added that he would have a simple message for anyone not interested in carrying out road policing. 

“I would deal with them fairly quickly,” he said. 

“Let me assure you, I have said on many occasions to people who have shown open contempt, ‘Just leave your uniform at the door.’

“That’s it, if you’re not going to do your job, we did take an oath and our job was based on a number of pillars that we all signed up to. 

“Preservation of life was one of the most important of those pillars.” 

So far this year, 95 people have died on Irish roads. 

By contrast, 106 people died during the first seven months of 2024.

Main image: A Garda from the Roads Policing Unit carrying out a speeding checkpoint. Picture by: X/@GardaTraffic.