Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 11019Refusal to provide a blood sample (drug driving) · Co. Limerick · 1 Jan 2021

Conviction for refusing blood sample upheld on appeal, Limerick

Martin Enright, a man from Coolun Lodge, Croagh, Limerick, was stopped at a garda checkpoint in Ballingarry on New Year's Day 2021. A roadside saliva swab tested positive for cannabis, and he was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and cautioned. He refused three times to give a blood sample to a doctor at the garda station, and the district court convicted him, fining him €600 and disqualifying him from driving for four years. On 13 February 2026, Limerick Circuit Court upheld the conviction on appeal.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced13 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Martin Enright, a man from Coolun Lodge, Croagh, was convicted of refusing to provide a blood sample, in a drug driving case.
Where
Enright was stopped at a garda checkpoint in Ballingarry, County Limerick.
When
The stop took place on New Year's Day 2021.
Cause
Garda Errol Flynn told the court that the car smelled of cannabis, which led to a roadside test.
Investigation
  • A roadside saliva swab tested positive for cannabis.
  • Enright was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and cautioned.
Other details
  • Enright refused three times to give a blood sample to a doctor at the garda station, without giving a specific reason at the time.
  • Enright said he refused on medical grounds but did not say what they were.
  • A medical report stated that Enright has a long-standing phobia of needles.
In court
  • The district court convicted Enright of refusing to give a blood sample.
  • Limerick Circuit Court upheld the district court conviction on appeal, reported on 13 February 2026.
Sentence
Enright was fined €600, with six months to pay, and disqualified from driving for four years, effective the same day.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereEnright was stopped at a garda checkpoint in Ballingarry. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe stop took place on New Year's Day 2021. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationA roadside saliva swab tested positive for cannabis. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationEnright was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and cautioned. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtLimerick Circuit Court upheld the district court conviction. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceEnright was fined €600 with six months to pay and disqualified from driving for four years. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe driving disqualification took effect the same day. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherEnright refused to give a blood sample to a doctor at the garda station three times. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherEnright said he refused on medical grounds but did not say what they were. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherA medical report stated Enright had a long-standing phobia of needles. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Feb2026
    Sentencedlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Limerick man who refused to give a blood sample to gardaí says he has a phobia of needles

    Appeal outcome in a case from a 2021 roadside stop. Enright cited a needle phobia, but the court noted the reason was not given at the time and that he had refused three times.

    convicted, Martin Enright, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Enright