Query over status of man’s five year jail term

A defendant who admitted a drunk driving charge could be facing five years in prison, Sligo District Court was told.

Before the court was Tommy Irwin ( 39), 5 St Joseph’s Terrace who was stopped by Gardaí on January 2nd last at Caltragh Road.

Inspector Donal Sweeney said the defendant was seen driving eratically and was subsequently stopped and arrested for drunk driving.

A reading showed a concentration of 63mgs of alcohol per 100mls of breath.

A demand was also made from the defendant to produce his insurance.

He said the defendant had a number of previous convictions and on July 22nd 2016 he received a five year sentence, suspended for five years on a burglary charge.

Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor ( defending) said the defendant had fully co- operated. He didn’t have previous convictions for road traffic offences.

He had been away for a considerable number of years, then left but had “come back and faced the music again in the Circuit Court and dealt with all matters.”

Judge Cormac Dunne said the aggravating factor in the case the case was the fact this offence had occurred during the period of a suspended five year sentence.

The Judge said there had been a recent Supreme Court ruling on the matter of suspended sentences and the defendant may have to be brought back before the Circuit Court.

Mr McGovern agreed there was an issue surrounding the suspended sentence.

Judge Dunne said he would adjourn the case until this Thursday’s sitting to allow resident Judge Kevin Kilrane to deal with the matter and that of the suspended term.