Drink driving cases dismissed in Ennis District Court

Drink driving cases dismissed in Ennis District Court

Cases against fifteen motorists accused of drink driving were thrown out of Ennis District Court yesterday as a result of the breathalyser legal loophole which led to emergency legislation being introduced in September.

Judge Patrick Durcan dismissed the cases as a result of a High Court judgment which ruled that breath test results must be provided in both English and Irish.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is attempting to have the High Court judgment overturned.

Last week, Judge Durcan dismissed a similar drink driving case, saying: “The law of the land is as is. The matter is in for hearing today and accordingly I dismiss.”

Emergency legislation to close the loophole was signed by Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe in September, but had no impact on cases already before the courts.

It is not clear how many more cases could be affected.

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