No budget to compensate wrongful motoring convictions

The Tánaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald’s admitted she’s no money allocated in her budget this year to compensate thousands of people wrongly convicted in court.

Almost 15,000 people could be entitled to claim for compensation after being taken to court for motoring offences when they should have only received penalty points and a fine.

Minister Fitzgerald’s told the justice committee they still have no idea what the compensation cost will be.

Meanwhile, from tomorrow Gardaí will be able to test drivers for drugs on the roadside.

They’ll be testing for cannabis, cocaine, opiates and benzos.

If you’re found over the limit you could lose your licence.

Figures suggest that one in ten fatal crashes on our roads involve drugs.