A Tuam man who received 13 months in prison at the local District Court was told by a Judge that he could appeal the sentence to the Circuit Court, where he ran the risk of having it doubled.
Before Judge James Faughnan was Paul Kavanagh, with an address given as 25 Clochran, Kilcloghans, Tuam, charged with a series of offences.
Garda Michelle Hallinan told the court that the defendant was observed driving away from a solicitor’s office on Dublin Road, Tuam on November 10 last in an erratic manner. He had no driving licence or insurance at the time.
Garda Darren Egan gave evidence of being on patrol on November 25 in the Mountbellew area when he observed Kavanagh driving. Kavanagh was known to him, so he followed and stopped the car. Kavanagh was with his partner in the car and he became extremely aggressive towards her, shouting that she had called the Gardaí.
A subsequent urine analysis showed he was over the alcohol limit.
On April 25 at Galway Road, Tuam, Kavanagh caused a three-vehicle collision. Two vehicles were stopped at the traffic lights when Kavanagh rear-ended the second and pushed it into the first. He then left the scene. He was driving his ex-partner’s car without permission.
Kavanagh pointed out in court that he had remained at the scene to help push one of the vehicles off the road. The defendant had 23 previous convictions, the court was told.
Gearóid Geraghty solr (defending ) said his client was 40, had three children and had addiction issues. An assault causing harm charge was as a result of a dispute with his partner.
For assault, drunk driving, driving without insurance and hit and run convictions Judge Faughnan imposed a total of 13 months’ imprisonment and a five-year driving ban.
