1,400 drink driving prosecutions held up as breath test statements were not printed in Irish

Lawyers for the State have told the Court of Appeal that 1,400 drink driving prosecutions are being held up by a ruling that breathalyser test statments were not valid if printed in the English language only.

Lawyers for the State have told the Court of Appeal that 1,400 drink driving prosecutions are being held up by a ruling that breathalyser test statements were not valid if printed in the English language only.

The Director of Public Prosecutions opened an appeal today against a ruling which found that a failure to produce the other half of a statement showing breath-alcohol levels – in Irish - was not evidence at all.