Saturday 31 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. 17911Driving with excess alcohol · Co. Kildare · 20 Oct 2019

Judge criticises prison phone access in Naas driving case

On 20 October 2019 on the N7 at Kill West, County Kildare, Anthony McBride, 31, was prosecuted for driving with excess alcohol. He appeared by videolink from Mountjoy Prison at Naas District Court, where his barrister said he had not been able to contact him, and the judge criticised prison authorities for blocking solicitors and barristers from phoning clients in custody. In the case reported on 14 March 2024, the judge imposed a two-year driving disqualification. McBride is serving a four and a half year term for a separate offence and is not due for release until August 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced14 Mar
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Anthony McBride, 31, was being prosecuted for driving with excess alcohol.
When
  • The offence took place on 20 October 2019.
  • The case was reported by Kildare Now on 14 March 2024.
Where
  • The offence took place on the N7 at Kill West, County Kildare.
  • His address was given as 64 Adamstown Avenue, Lucan.
In court
  • The case was heard at Naas District Court, where he spoke by videolink from Mountjoy Prison.
  • The defence barrister said he had not been able to contact the defendant.
Other details
  • Judge Desmond Zaidan said videolink was meant to make case progression easier but had the opposite effect.
  • Judge Desmond Zaidan criticised prison authorities because solicitors or barristers cannot phone clients in custody.
  • McBride is serving a four and a half year term for a separate offence and is not due for release until August 2026.
Sentence
The judge imposed a two-year driving disqualification.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe offence took place on the N7 at Kill West. (kildarenow.com)
  • whereThe defendant's address was given as 64 Adamstown Avenue, Lucan. (kildarenow.com)
  • whereThe defendant spoke by videolink from Mountjoy Prison. (kildarenow.com)
  • whenThe offence took place on 20 October 2019. (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeThe defendant was being prosecuted for driving with excess alcohol. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtThe case was heard at Naas District Court. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtThe defence barrister said he had not been able to contact the defendant. (kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceThe judge imposed a two-year driving disqualification. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe judge criticised prison authorities because solicitors or barristers cannot phone clients in custody. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe judge said videolink was meant to make case progression easier but had the opposite effect. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe defendant is serving a four and a half year term for a separate offence and is not due for release until August 2026. (kildarenow.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 14 Mar2024
    Sentencedkildarenow.com, first report
    Prison authorities attacked by judge because solicitors can't get through to clients in jail

    Court report on one case: Anthony McBride's excess alcohol prosecution at Naas District Court, where he received a two-year driving disqualification. The article also reports the judge's criticism of prison phone access for defendants on videolink.

    convicted, Anthony McBride, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Anthony McBride