Office of DPP set to appeal Laois judge's decision

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) refused to comment on reports that it intends to challenge the ruling of a Laois based judge.  

The reported challenge relates to nearly three dozen GoSafe speeding cases which were dismissed for being “unjust” despite being proven at Portlaoise District Court last December. 

In all, 32 motorists had summonses for speeding at Clogheen, Monasterevin, Kildare dismissed by Judge Andrew Cody, who had previously voiced serious concerns about the level of GoSafe speed prosecutions in the 60km zone on the short stretch of the R445 road between Monasterevin and Ballybrittas.

Judge Cody said GoSafe collected more money in fines on the 700 metre section at Clogheen in 2022 then they had in all of Co Kilkenny that year. In fact, the stretch of road was so lucrative that GoSafe had issued fines of €108,240 which exceeded all of the GoSafe fines issued in Leitrim, Longford and Clare combined in 2022. See original report.

“The question has to be asked, how can a 700 metre of roadway have the same level of prosecutions as all of Kilkenny, Louth or Mayo and over five times for the entire county of Leitrim?” Judge Cody said last December. 

Judge Cody listened to details of  38 speeding summonses issued to motorists for driving over 60km/h  at Clogheen during a sitting of Portlaoise District Court last December 19.  All summonses for driving  below 80 km/h were marked facts proven and dismissed as Judge Cody said  “it would be unjust to convict.” Just six motorists who exceeded 80 km/h were convicted and fined.   

The Irish Times has now reported that the DPP is seeking to overturn Judge Cody’s decision not to prosecute the motorists. 

When contacted by the Leinster Express/Laois Live, a spokesperson for the DPP stated that the Office of the DPP does not comment on individual cases.