Denton v. D.P.P. [1998] IESC 30 (29th October, 1998)

Denton v. D.P.P. [1998] IESC 30 (29th October, 1998)

The prosecution did not offer two different times of arrest in evidence; the only admissible evidence was that of the arresting Garda. The custody record was not proved or put to the Garda and thus did not create a contradiction or reasonable doubt. The District Judge was incorrect in law to dismiss the prosecution on this basis.

Citation
[1998] IESC 30
Parties
Prosecutor: Director of Public Prosecutions; Accused/appellant/respondent: Alice Denton
Jurisdiction
Ireland
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal (case Stated) / Appeal From High Court to Supreme Court
Outcome
appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Drunken Driving, Evidence, Contradictory Evidence, Arrest Procedure

Case Brief

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Parties

Director of Public Prosecutions

Prosecutor

Alice Denton

Accused/appellant/respondent

Procedural Posture

Criminal Appeal (case Stated) / Appeal From High Court to Supreme Court

  1. 1 Whether the District Judge was correct in law to dismiss the prosecution due to two different times of arrest being proffered
  2. 2 Whether the custody record time contradicted the arresting Garda's evidence sufficiently to create reasonable doubt

Ratio Decidendi

The prosecution did not offer two different times of arrest in evidence; the only admissible evidence was that of the arresting Garda. The custody record was not proved or put to the Garda and thus did not create a contradiction or reasonable doubt. The District Judge was incorrect in law to dismiss the prosecution on this basis.

Court Disposition

appeal dismissed

Orders

  • District Judge to enter into continuance of the case