Drink driving conviction could lead to impeachment

A CRIMINAL conviction for drink driving may be enough for politicians to press ahead with the impeachment of Circuit Court Judge Brian Curtin, legal experts said last night.

A conviction could come under the heading of “stated misbehaviour”, the only avenue apart from “incapacity” that the Oireachtas can take to remove a judge from the bench.

However, any move against Judge Curtin would have to wait until the case has been dealt with in the courts and, in the meantime, he would continue to be paid a full salary - €130,000 a year.