This article is from page 75 of the 2008-09-23 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 75 JPG
AN ENNIS man who was caught drink driving while he was banned from the road has been disqualified from driving for six years.
Eddie Kirby (57) of Glenoir, St Senan’s Road, pleaded guilty to two counts of drink driving.
Ennis District Court heard last Thursday that Kirby was banned from driving in a Galway court on January 23, 2007. He was disquali- fied during one of the offences be- fore last week’s court.
Defending solicitor William Cahir told the court that his client under- stood that the Galway case was un- der appeal at the time.
“He accepts now the case wasn’t under appeal, but his belief (at the time) was the cases were under ap- peal,” said the solicitor.
He said he accepted that people who drove while disqualified had prison sentences imposed on occa- sions, but said the circumstances in this case were “unique”’.
‘He is somebody of a delicate men- tal disposition. He has made consid- erable strides and improvements,’ he Sr nLGe
“Mr Kirby’s traditional habit has always been that he would go to town and have two pints and return home. He had consumed alcohol earlier in the day,” he said.
Judge Joseph Mangan said, “That story about him not being aware about being disqualified is a cock- and-bull story.”
He imposed a three-month jail term and banned him from driving for Six years.
He fixed a bond in the event of an appeal.