Portlaoise Court: Cancer patient was five times the drug driving limit
Portlaoise Courthouse
AN unaccompanied learner driver who was stopped by gardaí, while coming from a hospital cancer appointment, was found to be five times the permissible drug driving limit.
Arising from the stop that took place on 12 September last at Morette, Emo, 25-year old Jessy Bartlet from Tullaskegh Drive, Roscrea, Co Tipperary pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence of an intoxicant, when he came before Portlaoise District Court.
Defending solicitor Philip Meagher said that his client had received a cancer diagnosis a few years ago and, at the time of the stop, he had been coming from Tallaght Hospital where he had received an ECG.
He said that Mr Bartlet used cannabis for pain relief at times when he finds the pain quite extreme.
He asked Judge Andrew Cody to defer imposing a driving disqualification for a few months, to allow his client’s father to recover from an illness so that he can drive his client to and from hospital appointments.
Judge Cody convicted Mr Barlet of the offence fined him €200 and disqualified him from driving for one year.
He postponed the disqualification until 1 September.
