TD Mattie McGrath caught driving on phone

Absurdum · 07-12-2010 2:01pm #1

Footage catches mobile Mattie’s drive time error
By Stephen Rogers
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
JUST last August, he accused Transport Minister Noel Dempsey of behaving like a "latter-day prince entitled to royal treatment" after the minister took the Government jet to Donegal rather than travelling by road.

But after being filmed apparently flouting the rules of those very same roads, Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath may have got himself in his very own right royal mess.

The renegade Fianna Fáil TD had just taken part in an interview "as Gaeilge" about this afternoon’s budget.

After giving his opinion to the camera he is then pictured inside his van.

He is shown reversing the vehicle, moving into forward gear and then as he drives off he takes his left hand off the wheel and raises the mobile phone to the side of his head.

Worse, the footage clearly showed the location for the interview had, like most of the country for the last week, suffered the effects of the sub-zero temperatures with patches of snow dotted around.

There is no chance of Mr McGrath claiming mistaken identity given that the vehicle in which he appeared to be committing the offence was emblazoned with several larger-than-life pictures of his very own face.

Both last night’s RTÉ Nuacht and TG4’s news bulletin gave prime space to the TD’s arguments.

But today the headlines should go to the Fianna Fáiler’s latest motoring foul up. Just over a year ago he caused controversy when he openly opposed changes to the drink driving limit saying he did not believe reducing the limit from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood would affect a person’s ability to drive.

At the time he added insult to injury by saying: "I know people for whom drink is a relaxant and they might be more nervous without it."

According to the Road Safety Authority, drivers are four times more likely to crash if they use a hand-held mobile phone while driving meaning they are risking their lives, the lives of their passengers and the lives of others.

Last night the Irish Examiner sought a comment from the normally outspoken TD. Ironically his mobile phone was switched off.

Read more: http://www.irishexaminer.com/home/footage-catches-mobile-matties-drive-time-error-138656.html#ixzz17Qk19YDo

pic here

:rolleyes:

El Weirdo · 07-12-2010 2:03pm

That's a van, not a phone.

Penn · 07-12-2010 2:04pm

At the time he added insult to injury by saying: "I know people for whom drink is a relaxant and they might be more nervous without it."

Yeah. I drive much better when I'm having a ****. Really relaxes me.

orourkeda · 07-12-2010 2:05pm

go on the mattie mcgrath

Tubberadora · 07-12-2010 2:07pm

Being from Clonmel myself I see this clown around town a lot. I'd love to know what apes voted him in, in the first place. He is a joke.

chin_grin · 07-12-2010 2:07pm

Rabble rabble rabble new enemy to take minds off other, more important, topics rabble rabble rabble.

Dave! · 07-12-2010 2:08pm

Musta been a big phone

Rabble Rabble · 07-12-2010 2:13pm

The picture shows a guy in a van. We would need to see a video to prove it was moving ( although I think I can guess).

But McGrath is the worst type of FF. Nevertheless. Here's hoping the collapse in the FF vote gets him out of the Dail.

tommyhaas · 07-12-2010 2:13pm

FFS, after everything Fianna Fail have done, people are worried about a TD using his fone when driving? Everyone does it, get over it. Why not concentrate instead on the real issues

IvyTheTerrible · 07-12-2010 2:14pm

tommyhaas wrote: »

FFS, after everything Fianna Fail have done, people are worried about a TD using his fone when driving? Everyone does it, get over it. Why not concentrate instead on the real issues

I don't.

tommyhaas · 07-12-2010 2:16pm

IvyTheTerrible wrote: »

I don't.

Thats because nobody wants to talk to you :pac:

Monty Burnz · 07-12-2010 2:18pm

Surely identifying someone as both an 'idiot' and a 'Fianna Failure TD' is a tautological error?

Sonnenblumen · 07-12-2010 2:18pm

Looks like a wadge of dough?

ButtersSuki · 07-12-2010 2:20pm

NEVER HAVE I BEEN SO SHOCKED IN MY WHOLE LIFE..........to hear that Mattie McGrath can operate a mobile phone, let alone drive.

ButtersSuki · 07-12-2010 2:27pm

My favourite quote from a politician in 2010 - "the coursing is to combat the obesity" from none other than Mattie himself. "the obesity" mind you.....

Biggins · 07-12-2010 2:35pm

Its just a case of "Do as I say - not as I do"

While a small incident in itself, its yet another example of politicians (not just FF!) thinking they are a breed apart and immune from the law.
...They are probably right and I expect him to get away with it.

Of course there will the default statement from Gardi now that "we will be having words with Mr Mattie, bla... bla..."

Johro · 08-12-2010 11:28pm

ButtersSuki wrote: »

My favourite quote from a politician in 2010 - "the coursing is to combat the obesity" from none other than Mattie himself. "the obesity" mind you.....

The obesity is due to the aytin'.

Seloth · 08-12-2010 11:30pm

I love the awe and shock of this...IT MUST BE FRONT PAGE NEWS TOMORROW!

TD Mattie McGrath caught driving on phone

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