A 22-year-old business student at GMIT was this week sentenced to nine months in prison by Judge Mary Devins.
Castlebar District Court heard that on February 4 2010 at 6.20am, Garda Shane O’Brien was called to a disturbance at Aglish Estate, Castlebar, where Kieran Cummins, from Limerick but with a listed address of 18 Castlegrove West, Castlebar, was observed walking through the middle of the estate with two iron bars in his hands. The intoxicated man dropped them when he observed the garda and then told Garda O’Brien to “f**k off and mind your own business”.
On March 24 2010, Garda Fergal O’Gara received a call that a car was stuck in the middle of the green in the Castlegrove area. On arrival at the scene at 12.45am he observed that Cummins was behind the wheel and was intoxicated. Cummins refused to provide a blood or urine sample at the Garda station.
The car had also been taken from outside a premises in the Castlegrove area. The owner had left keys in the ignition of the unlocked car.
The defendant told the court that the first incident occurred after he attended a house party where he was attacked by fellow students which “infuriated me” and he went to get the iron bars. The incident in March happened after he went to a house party and on the way home he got into the car, however he had no recollection of getting into the car.
The court heard that the defendant is disqualified from driving for three years and has a total of 10 previous convictions.
Judge Devins said that Cummins is a “complete and utter waster”, who benefits from a grant from the State and rent paid for by his parents. The judge said that she has “zilch sympathy for him” and for driving while disqualified he was convicted and fined €500, disqualified from driving for six years consecutive (to the previous driving disqualification ) and was sentenced to three months in prison. For failing to provide a sample Cummins was convicted and fined €500, disqualified for six years concurrent and sentenced to three months in prison consecutive. For no insurance the defendant was convicted and fined €500 and disqualified for one year concurrent. For the unlawful taking of the car he was convicted and fined €500 and sentenced to prison for three months consecutive. For the section six public order charge he was convicted and fined €500 and sentenced to three months concurrent. Judge Devins directed that the prison sentence be served in Limerick. Recognisances were fixed.
