Wednesday 28 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. 4280Drink driving · 21 Aug 2022

Supreme Court to hear DPP appeal over drink-driving chain of custody ruling

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the DPP's appeal over a High Court ruling that overturned a man's drink-driving conviction due to a break in the chain of custody of his blood specimen. The appeal concerns the interpretation of legislation on presumptions about evidence integrity and potentially impacts thousands of drink-driving prosecutions.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court18 Dec
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
8 statements extracted from the articles
  • whenThe man's blood specimen was taken at 00:37 on 21 August 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Supreme Court agreed to hear the DPP's appeal over a ruling affecting drink-driving prosecutions. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA panel of three judges agreed to hear the appeal, citing matters of general public importance. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe High Court ruled the statutory presumption did not extend to covering the chain of custody after the container was sealed. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe Medical Bureau of Road Safety certified the specimen contained 126ml of alcohol per 100ml blood, over the legal limit of 50ml per 100ml. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe courts deal with up to 7,000 drink-driving prosecutions annually based on blood or urine specimens. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe High Court judgment has led to hundreds of cases being put on hold pending the Supreme Court outcome. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe garda witness did not provide direct evidence about the whereabouts of the container before it was posted or who had access to it. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 18 Dec2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Supreme Court to hear DPP appeal over ruling affecting thousands of drink driving cases

    Reports that the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the DPP's appeal, and provides details of the underlying case including the chain of custody issue, the High Court's reasoning, and the broader impact on drink-driving prosecutions.

    convicted, male