Politicians must show leadership to prove conviction on drink driving

YOU’RE stopped by a garda who says he smells drink from you. You’re charged with driving under the influence.

You get yourself a great lawyer who finds a 20-minute loophole in the legislation and you're off the hook. That's what you get when you hire a really high-flying legal eagle. Hire one of those discount legal sparrows and where would you be?

In rather a better position, it might perversely be suggested. To have been convicted would have meant a one-day name-and-shame story. To have the case quashed keeps your name, your job, wife's name, the price of your house and its location in the papers for a week or more, in stories every one of which is associated with the drink-driving issue. If I were the man at the centre of this stinker, I would be very unhappy at the outcome. Paying a fine and losing my licence for two years would be a whole lot easier than having my name associated for all time with a drink-driving loophole.