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Patrick Horan
Ireland's road traffic solicitor
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NEW: What Happens If Caught Drink Driving in Ireland?
If an arrest meant disqualification we wouldn't need courts.

Patrick Horan
Feb 82 min read


NEW: What Happens When Someone Reports You for Dangerous Driving in Ireland: A Complete Guide
A tree surgeon is not a surgeon

Patrick Horan
Feb 86 min read


Can the police crush your car?
An innovative new 'scrappage scheme'

Patrick Horan
Jan 276 min read


Representing Yourself in Court
Can I Represent Myself in a Drink Driving Case in Ireland? C an I defend a drink driving charge without a solicitor? No. Absolutely not. That clear enough? Some people think they can make a solid case. They’ve argued politics with friends. Handled themselves well in work debates. Think quick on their feet. Maybe they even Google well. But courtroom argument isn’t argument, it’s procedure. It’s rules. It’s knowing not just what to say, but when to say it and why . Court is a

Patrick Horan
Jan 202 min read


The Cocaine Byproduct That’s Costing Irish Drivers Their Licence
"Benzoylecgonine doesn’t cause impairment.
At all.
Read that again.
Unlike cocaine, cannabis, heroin or MDMA which does cause impairment in some way, BZE does not"

Patrick Horan
Jan 134 min read


Tested Positive, But Felt Sober...
Q: I was sober but tested positive for drugs — can I still be charged? A: Yes. And this is exactly why drug driving charges are rising. I felt completely sober. Can they still convict me? Yes, because Irish law doesn’t require you to feel impaired. It only requires one thing: a test result that shows you're over the legal drug driving limit. This is where people get caught out. "Think of it this way: Alcohol leaves the body in hours. Cannabis can linger for days. Cocaine s

Patrick Horan
Jan 42 min read


How Do Judges Think?
"Sir" and "Miss" are good starts

Patrick Horan
Dec 26, 20256 min read


What drugs show up on a roadside drugs test?
Be careful what you take

Patrick Horan
Dec 16, 20255 min read


What offences carry penalty points in Ireland?
Be careful out there...

Patrick Horan
Dec 11, 20253 min read


Is 1 Pint Over The limit?
The eternal question...

Patrick Horan
Dec 4, 20251 min read


“I drank after the crash — does that get me off the hook?”
Drank After Driving? Why That’s Not the 'Loophole' You Think It Is A lmost certainly not. And not for the reason you think. Yes, there’s a defence in Irish law known (informally) as the “ hip flask ” defence. It does exist. "Here’s the smarter move: Don’t rely on stories from idiots who googled something online or became a ‘qualified lawyer’ from consulting ChatGPT" The idea is that you weren’t over the limit while driving… but only became over the limit after you stopped d

Patrick Horan
Nov 30, 20253 min read


How to Get Your Driving Licence Back After a Ban in Ireland (2025 Guide)
"Many people wrongly believe they can start driving again as soon as they reach the halfway point of their ban..."

Patrick Horan
Nov 27, 20253 min read


Can you write off the cost of beer against income tax?
How much can you legally write off on taxes? B ill Werbeniuk was a Canadian professional snooker player in the 1970’s & 1980’s. He was also the holder of a medical certificate that approved his drinking. Even better, he could offset the cost of beer against income tax. Werbeniuk “suffered from a hereditary nervous disease (or so he and his doctors claimed) which caused his hands to shake. The only solution which allowed him to participate in his trade was drink”. No, before

Patrick Horan
Nov 20, 20253 min read


Understanding Penalty Points in Ireland: A Complete Driver's Guide 2025
Think before you pay.

Patrick Horan
Nov 19, 20252 min read


What's the difference between Careless Driving and Dangerous Driving?
I n Ireland, both dangerous driving and careless driving are offences under the Road Traffic Acts, but they differ primarily in terms of severity, intent, and the consequences of the actions involved. Of all the factors that separate both careless and dangerous driving, the consequences of the driving is the most important. In other words -and this is a general observation- if your driving results in an accident or risk of it, it'll likely be classed as dangerous. Some of the

Patrick Horan
Nov 14, 20252 min read


Penalty for First-Time Drink Driving Offence in Ireland: 2025 Guide
Your mission? Don't get convicted

Patrick Horan
Nov 9, 20253 min read



Patrick Horan
Nov 9, 20252 min read


Can I be arrested for speeding?
Context is key

Patrick Horan
Nov 3, 20257 min read


What happens in court for drink driving?
It's tricky getting to the other side, but you can do it...

Patrick Horan
Nov 3, 20258 min read


Drug driving case dismissed.
Sergeant not trained to use drug detecting equipment. A DRUG DRIVING case was dismissed at Waterford District Court after the court expressed a doubt that a device had been used correctly. Mr EH was represented by Patrick Horan and Alan O’ Dwyer B.L. The case came before Judge Brian O’ Shea. On 3 January 2021 Mr EH had been involved in a road traffic accident on the N25 at Glenmore, Kilkenny. A sergeant who investigated the accident gave Mr EH a breath test, which he passe

Patrick Horan
Oct 24, 20252 min read
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