‘Due process should apply’ in Malcolm Byrne drink-driving probe – Taoiseach
It was reported over the weekend that the Fianna Fil TD is suspected of being almost two-and-a-half times over the legal drink-driving limit.
The Taoiseach has said that “due process should apply” in the investigation of party colleague Malcolm Byrne after it emerged he is suspected of being almost two-and-a-half times over the legal alcohol limit when he was arrested by gardaí.
The Fianna Fáil TD stepped down as chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on AI last June following the incident.
Previously, Mr Byrne said he was arrested early on May 28 while he was travelling from a hotel in Dublin to Dublin Airport.
Mr Byrne said he was stopped at a mandatory Garda checkpoint in the city centre, close to the hotel, and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of drink driving.
He said he informed Fianna Fáil of his arrest immediately after it happened.
It was reported over the weekend that he is suspected of being almost two-and-a-half times over the legal limit.
When asked if he was comfortable that a member of his parliamentary party faces such an accusation, Micheál Martin said: “No one is ever comfortable with that.
“The standard precedent within the Oireachtas pertaining to all political parties in the past has been that the courts should mete out the punishment to the individual, they should be uncompromising in doing that and due process should apply here.
“But it is unacceptable, in my view, that anyone would be drink driving in any shape or form.
“That is the case and it will go before the courts.
“But I can’t pre-empt what the courts may do and to say the precedent has always been that the courts take action in respect of these transgressions in relation to road traffic offences.”
Asked whether Fianna Fáil will reprehend the TD if he is convicted, Mr Martin said that everything will be kept under review.
Mr Byrne is to appear before a in court in Dublin in November.