Keeping you up to date with the new RSA annoucements on drink driving

The Road Safety Authority have released a series of advertisements keeping people in the know of how much is too much and the repercussions of drink driving with the law. We've decided to give you the lowdown and be aware of what is in store for anyone who attempts to drive after a few drinks.


Fines will start at €200 for a driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 50mg to 80mg, €400 with a BAC from 80mg to 100mg. Drivers with a BAC of 80mg to 100mg will not be allowed to hold a drivers licence for 6 months, regardless of penalty points or how many are obtained over a period of 3 years.


Drivers with a BAC between 50mg to 80mg will receive 3 penalty points, which will be present on their licence for the following 3 years. An accumulation of twelve points over a 3 year period will result in the driver being disqualified from driving for 6 months.


For learner drivers, newly qualified and professional drivers, which are those driving buses, goods vehicles and taxis, they will be fined €200. These drivers will be disqualified from driving for 3 months.


In every case, all drivers will be under arrest and brought to the nearest Garda Station. Blood, urine or breath samples will be taken as evidence and to measure the amount of alcohol present in the body. Each driver will then be served with a fixed penalty notice. Failure to accept this notice and choosing to go to court instead may involve increased fines and disqualification of driving for up to one year.


With the bank  holiday weekend approaching, drink driving is often on the increase so remember to drive safely and use alcohol responsibly.


However, for all road traffic offences, never hesitate to call Laura Shannon at Shannons Solicitors on 01 840 1780 for representation and the best advice.
And for more information on the Road Traffic Authority visit www.rsa.ie

Pfizer Inc. pay settlement due to the marketing of an illegal drug.

Drug makers, Pfizer Inc. has had to agree on the payment of $14.5 million to the government over the wrongful advertising of a drug for an overactive bladder condition.



This settlement comes after $2.3 billion was paid out in 2009 for criminal charges. Many of these involved claims by civilians and as their fourth settlement proceeding in a year, it involved with the illegal marketing of medicine to about 13 large sellers, including Viagra. The 2009 settlement sparked the agreement that the Pfizer had to be monitored for the following five years with regards to violating the law and continuing to market new drugs.



Detrol, the drug involved in this 2011 case, was advertised to men with swollen prostates and other bladder related conditions. However, the medicine was not approved for these cases and was actually for leaking problems and the need to urinate more often than usual.



Pfizer Inc. denies the accusations and admits to settling as a way to avoid ‘the cost and distraction of litigation.’



The payment to the government of $14.5 million will be divided among state Medicaid programs and the federal government. Whistleblowers who reported the wrong doing by the pharmaceutical company, will receive $3.2 million from the governments share.



The latest settlement was announced last Friday by the U.S. Attorney’s office, Boston.

If you or someone you know have had a similar experience with a drug recall or any other legal matter, please don’t hesitate to contact Vincent Shannon at Shannons Solicitors in Swords and visit Drug Recalls Europe to find a lot of information that can help you on the matter of recalls and defects.

News and Cases from the Court

A student from Skerries recently pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle without a licence, without an NCT disk and with no insurance. Stopped on Main Street, Rush in June 2011, Dean Foran has been disqualified from driving for the next six months as well as fined €650 by Judge Patrick Brady. He had no previous convictions.

A young man, who drove a vehicle without a fully licensed driver, was fined €150 at Balbriggan District Court. Gerard Hoare from Rush pleaded guilty to driving the car unaccompanied in June of this year. Hoare's solicitor said he drove the car as his mother was ill and he needed to get the messages for her. Judge Patrick Brady warned Hoare not to drive alone until he is fully qualified to do so and charged the 20-year-old €150.

A woman who has been charged with being drunk and in turn using threatening behaviour was remanded on bail at Balbriggan District Court last week. Melissa Bell of Pasture's Way in Balbriggan apparently refused to take garda direction and used abusive behaviour on June 18th. Judge Patrick Brady granted Bell's solicitor disclosure and adjourned the case until October 20th.

A man who allegedly handled stolen property had his case adjourned at Balbriggan District Court last week. Hugh Nevin from Co. Laois was charged with handling a chainsaw apparently knowing it was stolen at Balbriggan Sunday Market on February 13th. Nevin will appear in court again, on November 3rd, for a plea.

Caught drink driving for a second time within four years, a man living in Tullyallen in Co. Louth has been banned from driving for six years and ordered to do community service. Gints Kazbukis was brought to Santry Garda Station where he was breathalysed. His previous convictions consisted of speeding in 2007 and drink driving in 2008. In lieu of spending five months in prison, Kazbukis did 150 hours of community service. 'He is extremely apologetic' and 'has learned his lesson', solicitor Fiona Kelly said. The father of three, from Latvia, is aware that if he commits such an offence again, he will serve the prison sentence.

Possession of cannibas worth €30 cost a man from Lusk a fine of €150. Dominic Daly pleaded guilty at an Apple Green service station in Balbriggan in April of this year. The 25-year-old admitted to the court that it was 'a stupid mistake' and paid the fine.

A fine of €450 was handed to a young man who was found with cocaine for his own recreational use. Pleading guilty to possession of the drug, Gareth Lokko of Balbriggan had €140 worth of cocaine which was found when his home was searched on April 11th.

A man in Balbriggan has been ordered to pay €1,500 in compensation for assault. For a probation report to be compiled, his case has been adjourned. Stephen Teeling from Darcystown in Balbriggan admitted to and pleaded guilty to assaulting Mark McMahon at The Harbour View on January 8th. The case was adjourned until October 20th for the report.

And lastly, a man who stole a vehicle, which, he then crashed, has had his case adjourned, as Judge Patrick Brady needed an estimation of damages. Pleading guilty to the theft in Skerries, Patrick Redden from Galway failed to stop for the gardai when they were alerted in the early hours of September 17th. There was no value given to the damage so Redden was remanded on bail until October 20th when a proper report could be compiled.

And that's a summary of what's been happening in the courts. Don't forget to stop by our blog regularly and catch all of the latest and updated legal news.