Professional driver loses his licence

PROFESSIONAL driver Michael Farrell (52) of Rossard Upper, Bunclody lost his licence for two years, with effect from the start of 2019, after unsuccessfully contesting a drink drive prosecution.

The long-standing case brought to Gorey District Court by Garda Martin Kavanagh dated back more than four years to the night of August 2 on 2014.

It was 20 minutes to midnight when the garda had finished conducting a checkpoint in the village of Clohamon as he noticed a vehicle pulling in off the road 100 metres away.

He went over to the VW Discovery where Farrell was alighting on to the roadway.

The defendant smelled strongly of liquor and was quite unsteady on his feet, prompting his arrest after he failed a roadside breath test.

The motorist told the arresting garda that he had a few pints that night after he was paid.

A more formal breath test at the barracks confirmed that he was over the legal limit for alcohol.

In the witness box, the accused motorist recalled that he pulled in because he realised the gardaí were up the road in Clohamon.

Four years later, he could not recall where he was headed that night.

Judge Gerard Haughton could see no reason for Farrell stopping other than that he saw the gardaí and realised that he was driving with drink taken.

The court learned that the defendant was father of two teenaged children earning €600 weekly.

He was given six months to pay the €750 fine which followed his conviction and disqualification.