A Ballyhaunis man whose house burnt down last weekend was given a three year driving ban and a €300 fine after pleading guilty to drunk driving in Ballyhaunis District Court.
Garda David Donnelly told the court that on August 13 2008 he saw Andrew Mahon of 8 Station Rise, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, get into a car on Main Street, Ballyhaunis at 2.57am and speed down the street not stopping at a junction.
Garda Donnelly said he stopped the car and arrested Mahon and brought him to the Garda station where Mahon gave a blood sample which returned a reading of 205mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. He also said that Mahon failed to produce his driving licence and insurance. Mahon told the court that he did have a licence and insurance, but he was unable to produce them as his house had been burnt to the ground the previous weekend, to which Inspector Barry Foley told the court that the gardaí were aware of a fire at his home and were investigating it.
Judge Mary Devins convicted and fined Mahon €300 and disqualified him from driving for three years and took all other charges against him into consideration.
