Judge Lashes Garda Critics...
Drink drive comments"revolting"PUBLIC representatives in Mayo who claimed recently that the level of Garda clampdown on drunken driving in some rural areas had reached "unnecessary levels" have been severely criticised by a District Court Judge. Judge Daniel Shields said at Belmullet Court he found the comments "offensive" and"revolting". The Judge made his remarks during the hearing of a case against a 27 year old local man for drunken driving. "I see where some public representatives have stated that the drink driving laws are being enforced too rigorously", Judge Shields stated. He added:"I find that offensive.....comments like those from political platforms are revolting. "They (public representatives) don't go into hospitals and see how people are suffering as a result of drunken driving". HorrifiedEarlier, during the hearing of another drunk driving case, Judge Shields referred to the fact that a visiting Judge to Belmullet last month (Judge Michael Connellan) commented that he had been horrified by the amount of drink driving in the Belmullet area. But he (Judge Shields) was not as he was seeing it happening all the time."The level of drinking is a blot on Belmullet", Judge Shields commented. One of the drunk driving cases at Belmullet last week involved Michael Murphy (aged 27) of Shanahee, Belmullet who was fined £500 and disqualified from driving for four years for drunken driving at Carter Square, Belmullet on August 24th last. Supt Tony McNamara said Murphy was found asleep in his car with the keys in the ignition. Tests showed a blood alcohol reading of 217 miligrammes of alcohol per 100 millitres of blood. The defendant also pleaded guilty to drunken driving at Carter Square on October 21st. His license was endorsed and he was disqualified for five years. A decision on other penalties was adjourned to the April court in Belmullet so that Murphy could attend Harristown House for assessment. "I am giving him a chance, doing him a favour", the Judge commented. Mr. Michael Bohan, solicitor, (defending) said described Murphy as a progressive farmer with in excess of 50 livestock. On August 24th, alcohol combined with medication had caused him to fall asleep. He had stopped drinking since and a Probation Report was being prepared on him. "Tanking Up"Mr. Bohan added that his client had a drink problem and his mother was exceedingly worried as he came home drunk regularly. Before going to Marts he had a habit of"tanking up" in local hostelries. The solicitor stressed that Murphy was not a criminal. It was treatment he needed. Judge Shields: How can you say he is not a criminal when on a number of occasions he was drunk and put peoples' lives at risk. Mr. Bohan: He works hard but he drinks hard. The court heard that Murphy was convicted last year for not having insurance and had been disqualified from driving for two years. In another Section 49 (drunk driving) defendant, Colm Maloney of Glengad, Pullathomas pleaded guilty to drunk driving at Muings, Barnatra on September 5th last. Tests showed a reading of 287 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine. The defendant was also summonsed for not having insurance, a driving licence or tax. A previous three months prison sentence on the defendant for not having insurance had been suspended and Judge Shields ordered that the defendant serve this plus an additional two months for the drunken driving offence on September 5th. The Judge also disqualified Maloney from driving for five years on the drunk driving charge plus an additional five years disqualification for not having insurance, the disqualifications to run concurrently. "Chronic Alcoholic"A 53 year old married man, Michael Ludden from Doohoma, Ballina was convicted of drunken driving on August 11th. Tests showed 294 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. Judge Shields convicted Ludden of drunken driving and disqualified him for driving for two years. He asked that the Probation Officer arrange for Ludden to be assessed for treatment at Harristown House and, if he proved suitable for treatment, that he be sent there. A charge against Ludden of failing to provide a specimen for a Garda at Glenamoy on September 9th was adjourned to the April court. Michael Bohan, solicitor (defending) described the defendant, who is married with three children, as"a chronic alcoholic". He had been reported to Gardai by local people for drinking and driving. Called to the witness box, the defendant's wife, said she was very concerned about her husband, a qualified mechanic, who had been coming home late from pubs. She had found it very difficult to talk to him about the problem. Mrs. Ludden said she believed her husband now realised the serious consequences of what he had been doing . He had stopped drinking and had not been driving since before Christmas. Also, he had gone to Hope House and contacted Alcoholics Anonymous in Belmullet. Judge Shields said he felt that helping the defendant get some control of his alcohol problem was a better result than sending him to prison. The Judge also ordered that Garda possession be taken of the defendant's car so as to fully ensure he would not be driving. |
