Courts / Dublin / Report

Drug-driving case dismissed on appeal

Date
2026-07-21
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

A 27-year-old man, Cal Murphy, who was accused of driving with cannabis in his system, had his case dismissed on appeal. Judge Ronan Munro decided to dismiss the charge against Mr Murphy at the District Court Appeals Court, but commended the prosecuting garda for his actions. Mr Murphy was previously convicted in the District Court of driving while having a quantity of cannabis in his system, equal or greater than the specified amount, under section 4(1)(a) of the Road Traffic Act 2010. He received a community service order of 240 hours and a four-year driving disqualification. He later appealed his conviction. Garda Ian Galvin testified that he stopped Mr Murphy's Audi A3 on Charlemont Street, Dublin 2, on December 13, 2023, after detecting the smell of cannabis and finding a grinder in the car. A roadside oral fluid test indicated the presence of cannabis, and a blood sample later showed levels of 63.1ng/ml of cannabis metabolite.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Drug-driving case dismissed on appeal. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted

When:

Why: Garda Galvin said he told Mr Murphy that he had formed an opinion that he was incapable of driving in a public place and explained that he was under arrest for drug driving. CNI source report

Case subjects

Unnamed 27-year-old

Appellant

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; He was given a community service order of 240 hours in lieu of four months imprisonment and a four-year disqualification.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • District Court Appeals Court
Residence
Incident
Garda Station
  • back to Kevin Street Garda Station
  • Kevin Street

Topics

Drugs Road Traffic Stage Appeal

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