Drink drive cases halted

Nine drink-driving cases were struck out at Tralee District Court following an address to the court on behalf of Kerry solicitors which stated that a further appeal was being taken in the “Avadenei” case.

The ball was still in the air and the game was not over, in the matter of the Avadenei Irish language Evidenzer drink-driving cases, Tralee District Court has been told.

He had it on good legal authority that Mr Avadenei was going to appeal the decision of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court, Killarney solicitor Pat F O’Connor, said, asking for a general adjournment of the 100 drink-driving cases affected by the original challenge and still in the courts in Kerry.

Judges had taken different views and some, in Clare and in Cork, had dismissed cases. There had been adjournments in Kerry with dates fixed for hearing in anticipation of final outcome from the court of appeal.

However, the ball was still in the air and the game was not over, the solicitor said.

“What is good for the goose is sauce for the gander — we abided by the tacit agreement to await the outcome of the Court of Appeal when the State appealed,” Mr O’Connor said appealing for a general adjournment for review of the cases concerned.

There were 100 cases in Kerry and 1,400 nationally, a finite number as the State had moved quickly with legislation Pat F O’Connor said.

However, the State did not want adjournments, Insp Tony Sugrue said urging that the cases be dealt with.

Judge James O’Connor said he would go down through the list of over 40 drink driving cases before yesterday’s court.

“Old or oldish will be going,” the judge said.

Some nine cases that related to drink-driving detections 18 months or older were struck out