Driver of car held together with baling twine faces litany of charges including drug use
Image for illustration purposes
WHEN gardaí stopped a car, they found the boot was being held on with baler twine. They also found the tax on the car was out 1,180 days, the NCT had expired on 21 October 2019, the driver was an unaccompanied learner driver, he was using green diesel, he failed a roadside drug test, he was driving without insurance and was found in possession of cannabis herb.
That was the litany of summons put to Shane Daly from Grennan, Attanagh, who pleaded guilty to them all when he appeared at Portlaoise District Court last week.
Garda Ross Foy said on 23 October 2023 while manning a Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) checkpoint along the R445 in Borris-in-Ossory he saw a car approach that turned off to avoid the checkpoint.
When they followed and stopped the car, they found the tax and NCT were out of date. They also got a smell of cannabis coming from the car. When tested at the roadside Mr Daly failed a roadside drug test.
Gda Foy said: “The car was in very poor condition; the boot was tied on with baler twine. But in fairness. He was very easy to deal with on the night.”
The court heard that the defendant had three previous convictions, which Judge Andrew noted: “Three months before this he was stopped for driving while unaccompanied.”
Defending barrister Andrew Dunne said that his client, who has an interest in cars, had two cars at the time and that his other car was fully compliant with road traffic legislation.
“He won’t have too much interest in cars from today,” said Judge Cody.
Mr Dunne said that his client, “had an argument with his foster mother on the day. He stormed out of the house, took the car and tore off up the road.” He said the accused is “doing the best he can and takes up jobs here and there.” “What does he work at?” asked Judge Cody, to which Mr Dunne replied, "a plasterer."
Turning to Mr Daly he said: “Mr Dunne tells me you do odd jobs,” to which Mr Daly responded. I’ve been working full-time for the past four-years.” Judge Cody said: “This is as bad as it gets. He was an unaccompanied driver, drug driving a car that was held together with baler twine.”
He went on to convict Mr Daly on all summons and fined him €750, imposed a three-month custodial sentence, suspended for three years and disqualified him from driving for five years for drug driving. Fined €300 for possessing drugs. For having no insurance, he was fined €750 with a three-month custodial sentence suspended for three years and a five-year driving ban. For driving with green diesel. Mr Daly was fined €2,500 and disqualified from driving for five years. For having no tax or NCT on his car at the time. Judge Cody imposed a €500 on each of those summons.
Mr Daly was fined a total of €5,800, a total of a five-year driving ban, as well as a three-month custodial sentence that is suspended for three years.
Before disposing with the case Judge Cody fixed recognisance should the defendant wish to appeal his decisions, and on condition that Mr Daly, “does not drive any vehicle on a public roadway,” should an appeal be lodged.
