Kerry farmer who couldn’t get a taxi caught drink-driving
Cahersiveen District Court
Cahersiveen District Court
Sinead Kelleher
Kerryman
Today at 14:58
A Kerry sheep farmer has been convicted of driving with excess alcohol after he made a decision to drive on a night out as he couldn’t get a taxi.
Donal Griffin (67) of Letter West, Glenbeigh, came before Cahersiveen District Court, where he pleaded guilty to the offence and was subsequently disqualified from driving for three years and fined €350.
The court heard he was stopped by gardaí on May 8, 2022, at Kilnabrack Upper, Glenbeigh.
His solicitor, John O’Dwyer, said that Mr Griffin “will be hit hard from a personal point of view” because of the conviction. He said his client had gone for a few drinks and couldn’t get a taxi and “made the wrong decision” and drove home.
He said Mr Griffin is contrite over what occurred.
“In his almost 70 years he has never come to garda attention,” he said. He also sought a postponement for Mr Griffin given how important transport is for the farmer.
Judge Waters said he would postpone the driving ban but would only do so until September.
