Thursday 5 November 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. 30919Drink driving · Co. Tipperary

Tipperary gardaí switch providers for out-of-hours drink driving tests due to delays

At Nenagh Court on 2 July 2021, the defence in a drink driving case raised the issue of delays in obtaining blood and urine samples, and the court heard that Nenagh gardaí had switched from the local Shannondoc out-of-hours service to a private company to take samples from suspected drink drivers.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court6 Jul
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA person suspected of drink driving on the outskirts of Nenagh in July 2019 was arrested at 1.24am (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whatThe suspect was brought to the station at 1.30am (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whatNo garda was available to conduct an Evidenzer test at the time (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whatA Shannondoc doctor did not take a blood or urine sample until 3.40am, having arrived at the station at 3.31am (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtThe matter was heard at Nenagh Court on 2 July 2021 (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtJudge MacGrath agreed that waiting for a doctor to arrive came down to a question of detention and may lead to unlawful detention (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherNenagh gardaí switched from Shannondoc to a private company for out-of-hours drink driving tests (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe switch was due to occasional delays in getting a medical professional to attend the station within the specified time (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe defence solicitor said the time delay was the one issue he would raise in defence (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherGardaí have three hours to obtain a sample after which issues around unlawful detention can arise and the case may be dismissed (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherWhen contacting Shannondoc, they could be placed on a waiting list if a more important medical emergency arrived (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe private company would provide a doctor within a number of miles radius (tipperarylive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Jul2021
    In courttipperarylive.ie, first report
    Tipperary gardaí switch providers for out-of-hours drink driving tests due to delays

    Reports on the procedural issue of delays in obtaining drink driving samples and the switch from Shannondoc to a private company, as raised in a specific drink driving case at Nenagh Court on 2 July 2021.

    suspect