Mayo's fine - shy drunk drivers irk DJ
SOME drunken drivers in the Mayo region are flouting the law further by refusing to pay their fines. This has exasperated Judge Daniel Shields of the District Court who commented at Balla Court on the number of warrants he had to stamp in previous days. These warrants are sought by District Court clerks when defendants fail to pay within a fixed period the fines imposed on them. Many of these warrants related to fines imposed in drunk driving cases, Judge Shields stated. This situation meant there was an awful waste of time and effort. "It is pushing me to look at these things in an entirely different manner", the Judge warned. Judge Shields made his comments during the hearing of a case against Patrick Staunton (aged 57), from Ballinafad, Belcarra, who was summonsed for drunk driving at Garhownagh, Balla on September 26th last. A urine test showed a reading of 304 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millitres of urine. Mr. Tom Walsh, solicitor (defending) said his client was single and lived in poor enough conditions. He had sold his car and now hoped to emigrate to England to work there. Judge Shields said some people had complained about the high level of Garda enforcement in the area but here was a defendant with an alcohol reading of over 300 driving without insurance at an age when he should have more sense. The defendant was fined £250 for drunken driving and disqualified for two years. He was fined £100 for not having insurance; had his licence endorsed and was disqualified for one year. Also at Balla Court, John Keaney (aged 34) of Roslahan, Manulla was fined £300, had his licence endorsed, and was disqualified for two years for drunk driving on December 8th last at Moate/Leggaun, Balla. A urine test on the defendant showed 379 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine. Mr. Tom Walsh, solicitor (defending) said his client was a single man, a small farmer, who has not driven since he was arrested and has not drank for a month. Imposing the fine and disqualification, Judge Shields commented that the defendant had consumed a huge amount of alcohol.
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