A Garda spokesperson said the gardaí are aware of the content on social media platforms, which appears to give an eyewitness account of the fatal collision on Sunday in North Co Dublin, in which Gda Flatley died.
The 49-year-old father-of-two was working overtime to help his colleagues when he was hit as he recorded vehicles’ speeds on the side of the road on the R132 at Lanestown on Sunday afternoon.
In a statement, gardaí said the commentary that is being circulated online is “completely inaccurate and has no basis whatsoever in fact”.
They added that this type of misinformation also risks diverting Garda resources and time from a complex and ongoing investigation into this collision.
Gardaí said they have regularly highlighted the rise in the level of misinformation, disinformation and fake news, which are typically intensified by multiple accounts to spread concern within communities.
An Garda Síochána appealed to the public to independently verify any information that could be read on social media and messaging applications.
They also confirmed that they have made social media companies aware of this misinformation.
“It is a matter for them to comment on requests from An Garda Síochána for this material to be removed from their platforms,” a spokesperson added.
Gda Flatley ad served as a garda for 26 years and had been with the Roads Policing Unit since 2018.
Gda Flatley is survived by his wife Una and his two daughters.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris speaking to the media at Garda headquarters in Dublin after Irish police officer Kevin Flatley was killed at a checkpoint in Dublin after being struck by a motorbike (Garrett White/PA)
Speaking after Gda Flatley’s death, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said that road policing gardaí face “extraordinary” dangers in carrying out their duties.
Speaking generally about road safety in Ireland, Mr Harris also called for a societal “reset”.
“I acknowledge the tougher sentences that have been put in place by the Government, but also this does call for a real reset and rethink about our approach as a society to road safety,” he said.
“Excessive speed, drink-driving, distraction, not wearing seat belts – all these things are regularly killing people on our roads.”
Mr Harris said it was not an option to withdraw members from roadside speed-detection duties.
“We have to keep our enforcement effort going,” he said.
Gda Flately’s funeral mass will take place at Peter and Paul’s Church in Balbriggan at 1.30pm on Friday.
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