Courts / Dublin / Report

Drug driving conviction overturned after judge notes identity of interpreter was not recorded

Date
2026-07-29

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

A man accused of driving with a trace amount of cocaine in his system had his conviction overturned on appeal after a judge noted the identity of a Romanian interpreter provided at a garda station was not recorded. Marcel Nagit was convicted in the District Court of driving while there was present in his body a quantity of benzoylecgonine (cocaine) where the concentration of that drug in his blood was greater than the specified concentration. He was fined €1,000 and disqualified from driving for one year. He later lodged an appeal against his conviction. The court heard that a Romanian interpreter was contacted but the service couldn't guarantee an arrival in time. The garda opted for a telephone translation. The judge noted that the custody record was incomplete and that the identity of the interpreter was not recorded, which was prejudicial to the accused. The judge allowed the appeal, overturning the conviction.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Drug driving conviction overturned after judge notes identity of interpreter was not recorded. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted

When:

February 13, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
2026-07-29 Publication

Why: He said that there was interpretation for the notice of rights, the reason for arrest and all throughout the process with the doctor. CNI source report