The Top 5 DUI Lawyers in Cork for a Strong Defence After Road Offence!
Here in Ireland, driving under the influence is a serious offence. You’ll receive an automatic driving ban once convicted, as well as heavy fines that can reach thousands.
And in a place like Cork (or the whole of Ireland, for that matter), drinking culture is strong. Having a DUI lawyer on speed dial is quite essential, I should think.
Many of us have been there, right? We felt okay enough to drive after a night out, so we made a mistake. Most of us have also seen completely knackered drinkers having a brawl outside the pub. Things like these can ruin your record.
To help you be prepared, below are our most trusted DUI lawyers in Cork who can handle simple and complex cases, and are worth having on your contacts list.
How We Chose the Best DUI Lawyers in Cork
1. Killian McCarthy – Criminal Defence Solicitor

Address: 13 Sheares St, Centre
Contact: 021 4275244, [email protected]
Hours: 24/7
When it’s about criminal defence in Cork, Killian McCarthy is a name that pops up straight away. That was entirely predictable, given his extensive expertise in various offences, including public order, road traffic, and drug offences.
He’s rather skilled, to tell you the truth. He’s a criminal defence solicitor in Cork who covers DUI cases, with skills and knowledge to represent clients on a daily basis.
Part of his expertise includes Garda Station interviews, and he’s even available for urgent matters to make sure his clients have a solicitor during such a stressful time.
He’s also available 24/7, should you need representation in the middle of the night, but remember that this is only for urgent matters. Still, he and his staff are always quick to reach, which is quite remarkable for such a busy office.
McCarthy also earns our seal of approval for being as professional as can be. His clients have noted his high standard of work, where he’s given tremendous support, legal aid, or not.
An amazing solicitor
“I would highly recommend Killian, he is an amazing solicitor, he is very calm, understanding and professional with his approach which was very welcomed during highly stressful moments, he done an amazing job and brought a lot of truth to light, he is highly skilled in his work, also barrister Carmel has a heart of gold, she showed lots of empathy and understanding, she is very skilled and is great at what she does, she is able to see right through misleading information and makes sure that certain critical information is heard, together both Killian and Carmel achieved a great result and made me very happy with my choice. 10/10”
– Eion O Sullivan, Google Review
Excellent knowledge of the law and defence tactics
“I asked Killian to replace my previous lawyer with whom my case was at a standstill. I do not regret! Professionalism and individual approach to the client at every step. Hassle-free, constant contact, which calmed me down a lot. Generally, he is a young, ambitious lawyer with excellent knowledge of the law and defense tactics. I can honestly give it five stars. I could count on solid support in my defense. All cases won! I highly recommend!”
– Piotr J, Google Review
2. Frank Buttimer – Frank Buttimer & Company

Address: 19 Washington St, Centre
Contact: 021 427 7330, [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Friday: 9 am – 1 pm & 2 pm – 5:30 pm
Frank Buttimer is a highly experienced solicitor who also founded his firm. He’s been practicing law since 1979 and has handled all sorts of simple and complex criminal cases.
His track record is remarkable, as he’s worked on high-profile cases in Ireland. His specialisation includes road traffic offences, and that includes drink and drug driving cases.
As for his strategy, he abides by a no-nonsense approach, remaining calm and professional while searching for the best possible legal outcome for his clients.
He’s busy, though, since he attends the Courts nearly every day. As a result, there were times when he had handed cases to other solicitors, which is fairly common, but we have to admit it’s still a bummer.
Buttimer is available for emergency cases, though. It’s also worth noting that they remain informative to their clients at all times, starting with the consultation.
Extremely high standard
“I have used this firm in the past, (Frank Buttimer)and have found,their experience to be of an extremely high standard.”
– Angela Sheehan, Google Review
He’s never broken a promise
“He is the best person,, that’s coming to my life he’s never broke a and he’s never broke a promise to me Catherine his secretary, she’s a very kind woman”
– Fatima Nasredine, Google Review
3. Shane Collins-Daly – Collins-Daly Solicitors

Address: 32 Washington St, Centre
Contact: 021 2021370, [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Friday: 9 am – 5:30 pm
It was no surprise that we included Shane Collins-Daly on our list, as he’s a solicitor with plenty of experience working on criminal cases. In fact, he works in all areas of criminal law, and his specialisation includes road traffic law, such as drink driving.
Furthermore, we were impressed with his considerable expertise in juvenile law. Unfortunately, underage drunk driving offences happen in Ireland, and it’s much appreciated that there’s someone in Cork well-versed in Children’s Court cases.
In addition, Collins-Daly is a seasoned solicitor for Garda Station interviews, where he can provide significant advice. His accessibility is even better with a 24-hour callout, but for urgent cases only.
The support we’ve seen has been top-notch, though, where he remained professional and well-prepared at all times. He cuts to the chase, wasting no time, without pressuring his clients as he knows how to explain things in plain English, without technical jargon.
Provides outstanding legal support
“Shane at Collins-Daly Solicitors provides outstanding legal support from start to finish. His professionalism, expertise, and dedication are always evident. He always takes time to explain every step clearly and always makes you feel supported. I highly recommend Shane and the team at Collins Daly Solicitors for their exceptional service. Five stars all the way!”
– Paul Mallon, Google Review
Fantastic to deal with
“Absolutely fantastic to deal with from start to finish. Shane is so diligent and hardworking, he kept me informed of all developments in a timely manner. I would have no hesitation in recommending Shane for all of your legal needs. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”
– Karl Browning, Google Review
4. Thomas Coughlan – Thomas Coughlan & Co. Solicitors

Address: 2, Anglesea St, 1, Ballintemple
Contact: 021 497 5460
Hours: Monday – Friday: 9 am – 5 pm
Thomas Coughlan is a solicitor in Cork who practices in all areas of criminal law, including road traffic and public order offences (and that includes DUI). He has represented many clients over the years and has worked on notable cases in Ireland.
He’s quite something, even being admitted to the United States Supreme Court in 2007. Furthermore, he has represented clients in all Courts across the state.
To boot, he has frequented Garda Station interviews, representing clients being interviewed by the Gardai. He makes sure his clients, whether accused of drink or drug driving offences in Cork, are protected and have the proper legal representation.
Here’s the catch: his firm could improve communication, especially with a paid consultation. It’s not a frequent happening, thankfully, because all in all, Coughlan has been completely approachable and professional.
Lastly, they’re open to the legal aid scheme, providing legal representation to low-income individuals who have been accused of DUI.
Excellent service
“Excellent service provided by Thomas Coughlan. Very helpful, professional and made the process stress free. Very experienced, queries were answered promptly and kept up to date regarding the procedures. I recommend Tom and his team at Thomas Coughlan and Co. without hesitation for their professional yet approachable style and specialist knowledge.”
Very professional
“Very professional ad highly experienced solicitor. Looking forward to our next appointment”
– Sorina Gabor, Google Review
5. Ronan Deasy – Ronan Deasy Solicitors

Address: Old Bank House, 101 Main St, Townparks, Midleton, Co.
Contact: 021 206 6456, [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Friday: 9 am – 5:30 pm
There are several reasons we trust Ronan Deasy for DUI cases. One is his expertise, where he’s a solicitor in Ireland and is authorised to practice in England and Wales.
Next is he specialises in road traffic offences, from driving without a valid licence to drink driving. We want to add his early licence restoration support for those who need a solicitor to apply for a driving ban lift.
In addition, his strategy remains clear and straightforward—available in English, Irish, French, and Spanish—which is tailored based on the client’s case. His clients mostly appreciated his meticulousness, ensuring all bases are covered.
He brings this approach to his transparent fee structures, ensuring you know what you’re paying for. Our team was truly impressed by his client-centred approach, which includes being attentive to his client’s needs, especially in a stressful situation.
He’s rather responsive, even providing same-day consultations, although not always possible when he’s snowed under. Still, he makes room as much as he can.
A great professional
“Ronan is a great professional. He was really helpful for the service we got from him. Especially the terms and procedures in law practice which are quite complicated during the service we got, he made it easy for us to understand and proceed. I would recommend him to everyone really here and I already do to my friends as well.”
– Olcayto Yazıcı, Google Review
Excellent to deal with from start to finish
“I found Ronan absolutely excellent to deal with from start to finish. He was transparent, responsive, and attentive to all of my queries throughout the process. Even when something unexpected came up, Ronan remained calm and handled it efficiently. I couldn’t rate his service highly enough — genuinely top-class from beginning to end.”
– Dealga Roche, Google Review