A 33-year-old unemployed carpenter from Castlebar was given a three month prison sentence for drunk driving and driving with no insurance. Stephen Munnelly, Rocklands, Castlebar pleaded guilty to all charges in Castlebar District Court this week.
Inspector Mick Murray outlining the evidence to the court, told how Munnelly was pulled over by an unmarked patrol car when he was seen driving at between 80kmph and 90kmph in a 50kmph zone on the N5 at Ballyvary, Castlebar at 10.15am on March 23 2009. After being stopped the arresting Garda made and observation that Munnelly had been drinking and brought him to Castlebar Garda Station where he provided a breath sample of 66mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. He had no insurance at the time he was arrested and was serving a disqualification.
Solicitor for Munnelly, Linda Lenihan told the court that her client had an alcohol problem and he was drinking at home when he received a call from his brother which necessitated him to drive that night. He is currently unemployed, but had the possibility of work in England.
Judge Mary Devins convicted and fined Munnelly €1,000, disqualified him from driving for four years and sentenced him to three months in prison for drink driving. For driving without insurance, she convicted and fined him €1,000, disqualified him from driving for four years to run concurrently with the ban she had imposed earlier and sentenced him to three months in prison to be served consecutively with the previous sentence. She also convicted and fined him €100 for driving without a driving licence
