Man pleads guilty in wake of court ruling on language

ONE of the first drink-driving cases to be heard following the Supreme Court’s dismissal of a challenge by a Romanian man whose breath alcohol statement wasn’t printed in both English and Irish, has resulted in a man being banned from driving for one year.

David Peppard, 53, appeared before Balbriggan District Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to a drink driving offence dating back to 2015.

Defence barrister Annette Kealy told Judge John Cheatle the Supreme Court outcome had concluded – but not in her client’s favour.

‘His case has been remanded since 2015 pending the outcome of the Avadanei case and in the circumstances, he is now pleading guilty,’ said Ms Kealy.

Peppard, of Magdalene Court, Kells, Co. Meath, pleaded guilty to drink driving on February 7, 2015, in north Co. Dublin.

Mihai Avadenei had argued successfully in the District Court and High Court that the breath alcohol statement taken after he was stopped by gardaí in April 2014, was not valid as it was not also printed in Irish and his prosecution was halted.

The DPP brought the case to the Court of Appeal which overturned the previous High Court ruling.

When Mr Avadenei of Swords, Co. Dublin, appealed this, the Supreme Court ultimately dismissed the challenge.