Friday 30 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. 17487Refusing to give a sample · Co. Tipperary · 17 Nov 2022

Man given four-year driving ban and €350 fine at Thurles District Court

Eric Riordan, a 35-year-old man, refused to give a blood or urine sample at Thurles Garda Station on November 17, 2022, after gardaí found him intoxicated at a collision scene in County Tipperary. He was arrested, taken to the garda station, and a doctor was called. He pleaded guilty to refusing to give a sample at Thurles District Court, and in April 2024 Judge Elizabeth MacGrath imposed a four-year driving disqualification and a €350 fine.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced24 Apr
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Eric Riordan, a 35-year-old man, refused to give a blood or urine sample.
Where
The refusal happened at Thurles Garda Station in County Tipperary.
When
The refusal happened on November 17, 2022.
Cause
Gardaí attended a collision scene and found the defendant intoxicated.
Other details
  • The defendant refused the sample after the penalty for refusing was explained to him.
  • The defendant had 30 previous convictions, 13 of them under the Road Traffic Act, according to Sgt Tom Hanrahan.
  • The defendant was completing a plumbing apprenticeship and had two children, according to his barrister.
  • Tipperary Live reported the sentence on April 24, 2024, and the article's published date is April 30, 2024.
Investigation
The defendant was arrested, taken to the garda station and a doctor was called.
Charges
The defendant was charged with refusing to give a sample and pleaded guilty.
In court
The case was heard at Thurles District Court before Judge Elizabeth MacGrath.
Sentence
The court imposed a four-year driving disqualification and a €350 fine.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe refusal happened at Thurles Garda Station. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whenThe refusal happened on November 17, 2022. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • causeGardaí attended a collision scene and found the defendant intoxicated. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • investigationThe defendant was arrested, taken to the garda station and a doctor was called. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • chargeThe defendant pleaded guilty to refusing to give a sample. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtJudge Elizabeth MacGrath imposed a four-year driving disqualification and a €350 fine. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant was given a four-year driving ban and a fine. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe defendant refused to give a blood or urine sample after the penalty was explained to him. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had 30 previous convictions, 13 under the Road Traffic Act. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe defendant was completing a plumbing apprenticeship and had two children, according to his barrister. (tipperarylive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 24 Apr2024
    Sentencedtipperarylive.ie, first report
    Plumbing apprentice banned from driving at Thurles District Court

    Reports the guilty plea, the court's sentence of a four-year driving disqualification and €350 fine, and the defence's mitigation. No earlier case in the list matches.

    convicted, Eric Riordan, 35, named, irish (judged from name)Eric Riordan