Swinford driver gets jail warning
Castlebar District Court heard that the defendant was convicted for drunk driving as recently as last July.
A Swinford man who was caught for drink driving for the third occasion has been warned he may face a jail term.
Martin O’Hagan, aged 46, of Lislackagh, Swinford, pleaded guilty at Castlebar District Court to the offence.
The court heard that Gda Fergal O’Gara was conducting a checkpoint at Barleyhill, Bohola, on February 7, 2023, when he observed the defendant driving a Ford Mondeo. O’Hagan failed a roadside test and was brought to Ballina Garda Station where he gave a breath sample that showed a reading of 78 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 22mg.
O’Hagan has two previous convictions for drunk driving, the second of which was last July.
Solicitor Ita Feeney said her client had been socialising with his nephew who left in an upset state and he decided to follow him.
O’Hagan told Judge Fiona Lydon he had been trying to stop drinking and had been referred by his GP to an addiction treatment centre.
Adjourning the case to February 7, Judge Lydon warned the defendant he could face jail if he did not cooperate with the Probation Service. She also said a six-year driving ban is likely.
