Now second TD admits ban for drink-driving while a learner
:: Greens in U-turn on demands for Cowen answers
SINN Féin TD Pat Buckley has revealed he was driving on a learner’s licence when he was caught drink-driving in 2013.
Mr Buckley said the incident that led to a three-year driving ban was still “a great source of shame for me and a massive mistake which I will never, ever repeat”.
The Cork East TD’s remarks come amid the controversy over Agriculture Minister Barry Cowen’s drink-driving offence.
Mr Cowen was disqualified from driving for three months after being caught drink-driving when he was returning home from the All-Ireland football final in September 2016. The Fianna Fáil TD was 49 years of age and still had a learner’s permit at the time.
Pressure continued to mount on Mr Cowen yesterday, as the chairperson of the road safety group PARC said it was a “disgrace” he could keep driving for so long on a learner’s permit in his capacity as a public representative.
Susan Gray said Mr Cowen’s Dáil statement in relation to the matter left many unanswered questions.
However, the Green Party backtracked on its demand that Mr Cowen explain why he was on a provisional driver’s licence at the time.
Green leader Eamon Ryan and his deputy Catherine Martin had both publicly insisted Mr Cowen should address how he didn’t have a full driving licence at 49. They have both now rowed back on their demands and accepted his Dáil statement, even though he made no attempt to explain why he did not acquire a licence until after he was banned for drink-driving.
A FIANNA Fáil TD has said he “deeply regrets” writing a letter to a court on behalf of three brothers whose homes were this week raided as part of a major Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) investigation.
In a statement, the Longford-Westmeath TD Joe Flaherty said writing the letter on behalf of the men during a violent order trial had been an “error of judgment”.
“As a newly elected TD for the area I provided a letter detailing an ongoing feud
of which these people were involved and the blight this feud has had on our town,” the new TD said.
“I acknowledge that writing this letter was an error of judgment and one which I deeply regret,” he added.
His comments followed criticisms by former justice minister Charlie Flanagan who said it was “dangerous” for TDs to try “influence judicial decisions” as it “potentially blurs the clear constitutional lines” which separate the legislature and the judiciary.
Mr Flaherty said he agreed with Mr Flanagan that “no political representative should ever seek to influence the Judiciary”. “Indeed this is something I expressed in the letter,” he added.
In June, Mr Flaherty described Thomas (40), Denis (39), and Willie Hannafin (35) as “extremely capable, very sharp and more than familiar with hard work” during a trial in Longford Circuit Court.
The men were given suspended sentences for an attack which resulted in an 18-yearold receiving a knife wound.
On Monday, the homes of all three men were among 12 residential properties, three commercial premises and one business raided by gardaí. CAB seized €110,000 and £14,000 (€15,570) in cash along with three caravans and 11 vehicles.
In the letter, the Fianna Fáil TD said he was “deeply disappointed” by the actions of the three brothers and said local feuds were having a negative impact on Longford. Mr Flaherty said he knew the men before the court and “many members of their family”.
“Ordinarily, they are likeable men, very committed to family, and I am aware that a shadow of tragedy has hung over them in recent years,’ he said.
“I would like to think and hope that the actions before the court are not likely to happen again but, unfortunately, feuding has been a huge problem and stigma for Longford town,” he added.
Mr Flaherty previously insisted he was not a “character reference” and said he was not trying to influence the outcome of the case. The letter was written on the TD’s personalised headed notepaper.