Hungry drunken-driver put off the road

A BACHELOR farmer in south Kerry who was given a chance to go to Lisdoonvarna to find ‘a nice woman to drive him around’ ahead of a looming disqualification period, was put off the road for three years when the case came back before the courts.

The matter was finalised at the December court in Cahersiveen but the court was not told if the farmer had availed of the chance to go to Lisdoonvarna and find a nice woman prepared to spend the beginning of a courtship period driving him around the place.

John O’Shea, of Derrinadin, Mastergeeha, had previously pleaded guilty to drink driving at Tarmons, Waterville, on July 25, 2014. His alcohol-blood reading - 198mg per 100ml - was such that the offence carried a three-year driving ban, the court heard.

Earlier sittings of the court heard the disqualification would make it difficult for Mr O’Shea, who lived 10kms from Waterville, to care for his cows and that he would have to make arrangements to get rid of them. On the date of the offence he had travelled to Waterville for animal feed but had become so carried away by a discussion about Kerry football in a pub that he forgot to eat, hitting the ditch on his way home.

Judge James O’Connor suggested he might also ‘find himself a nice woman’ who would drive him around.

If the matter could be adjourned beyond September it would allow him to go to the matchmaking festival at Lisdoonvarna, it was agreed in court in June.

Judge O’Connor convicted Mr O’Shea on Thursday of driving with excess alcohol, and fined him €175 with 10 months to pay, and disqualified him from driving for three years. He noted “no postponement was requested”. Meanwhile, sources say Mr O’Shea did not avail of the chance to go to the matchmaking festival. A number of hotels in the area had offered to put him up for the duration of the event.