McDowell plans to defend drink-driving laws

The Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has said the State will put up a strong defence if there are problems regarding the legality of drink-driving prosecutions.

A district court judge indicated yesterday that he may dismiss hundreds of drink-driving prosecutions because of delays in bringing the cases to a conclusion.

Judge Con O'Leary at Cork District Court dismissed a drink-driving prosecution because the case had been adjourned a number of times while the legality of the blood-alcohol-measuring intoxalyser device was challenged.