What to Do When You Get a Drink Driving Court Summons in Ireland

What to Do When You Get a Drink Driving Summons in Ireland

1. Understand what a summons is

It’s not a suggestion—it’s a legal command, not a request. Skip court and you risk a bench warrant, possible arrest at home, and extra charges.

2. Don’t panic—be proactive

• Mark the date and time. It will say “10:30 am” or “12 o’clock.”

• Phone a solicitor immediately. Courts expect you to have one. If you don’t, the judge will likely ask if you want one.

3. Show up. Seriously.

Being late—or absent—puts you in worse trouble than the original charge.You’re not just attending—you’re making an impression:

“Most first-time drink driving cases don’t end in jail,” says legal experts citizensinformation.ie+15phoransolicitors.com+15reddit.com+15.

But judges notice how you show up: on time, respectful, and prepared.

"If I’m being asked to consider references

from employers or evidence of sobriety,

it’s a tacit admission that we’ve already lost.

And I’m dead against that"

4. What to expect in court

• You’ll plead. Guilty? Not guilty?

• There’s no trial on the first date—it’s procedural: confirm attendance, get the evidence against you.

• Dress smart, stay calm. One person on the social media platform Reddit warned: “Don’t show up in a track suit.” reddit.com

5. Supporting your case

If you plead guilty, you can still explain your story.

But you’ll be disqualified from driving.

That’s the catch.

People often ask me whether they should bring character references or evidence of rehab or struggles with mental health issues.

You can but they won’t stop a disqualification if you’re convicted or you plead guilty.

Mention rehab, hardship, or steps you're taking to avoid a repeat incident.

I’m not saying that these things are of no use.

Of course they’re useful but they don’t stop a disqualification.

So in the vast majority of cases I ignore them.

I’m interested in winning, so if I’m being asked to consider references from employers or evidence of sobriety, it’s a tacit admission that we’ve already lost.

And I’m dead against that.

6. What if alcohol-tested positive but you say you drank after driving?

Good luck with that. No one believes it and the onus is on you to not only prove it but also that if it hadn’t been for that alcohol you had after you drove, you wouldn’t have been over the limit. Basically that’s impossible.  

✅ Quick Checklist Before Court

Task	Why It Matters
📅 Mark date/time	Avoid a warrant
🧑‍⚖️ Contact solicitor	Judge will ask
👔 Dress smart	First impressions count
📄 Bring docs/evidence	Show you're taking it seriously
🙏 Be honest and clear	Judges value sincerity