Young man advised to stay away from drugs
A JUDGE told a young man charged with drug driving to drive carefully and not take any illegal substances.
Oisín Lee (24) of Drinaghan, Knocknarea, Co. Sligo, appeared before Sligo District Court charged with driving under the influence of drugs at Church Hill, Sligo, on April 7, 2021.
Garda Conor McDonagh told the court he was on patrol on Pearse Road at 12.10am when he observed a Nissan vehicle travelling towards him in the opposite direction with its parking lights on.
He followed the vehicle and stopped it at Church Hill where he spoke with the driver. Initially he had observed him driving with his parking lights on however, when he spoke with him he noticed a strong smell of cannabis.
The defendant provided an oral fluid sample which read positive on the test. He was arrested on suspicion of committing an offence under the Road traffic Act, cautioned and conveyed to Ballymote Garda Station. He subsequently provided a blood sample which returned negative for alcohol on April 14, 2021, and positive for cannabis on June 9, 2021.
Defending solicitor, John Anderson questioned Garda McDonagh when and where the blood sample was returned and the garda told him it was the following day at Castle Street Post Office. He also confirmed he had kept the sample in a locker assigned only to him. Mr Anderson said the locked evidence was not given in the statement which he found “incredible.” Furthermore, he said he would challenge the arrest as there was nothing in relation to his client’s driving that grounded the arrest.
The judge said she was not holding with Mr Anderson saying Garda McDonagh had given in his sworn evidence the information about holding the sample in his locker. She also said a man driving towards him with his lights off was suspicious and the garda did caution him which he was obliged to do.
Judge Michéle Finan noted that the defendant was studying fire safety engineering and had no previous convictions. She said he was a young man who made a “stupid mistake” and on this occasion nobody was hurt.
She convicted him, saying she was obliged to disqualify him from driving for a period of 12 months imposing a fine of €50 with 12 months to pay. She said fire safety was a very responsible occupation telling him to drive carefully and not take any illegal substances in the future.