A 29 year old Ballyhaunis man was given a two year driving ban after pleading guilty to drink driving in Ballyhaunis District Court this week. Garda Leslie McMaster told the court that he stopped Michael Burke of Tullaghane, Ballyhaunis, at Curragh, Cloonfad, at 1am on the night of September 28 2008. He arrested him on suspicion of drunk driving and conveyed him to Castlebar Garda Station where McMaster gave a breath sample which gave a reading of 52mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.
Judge Devins raised her surprise at the gardaí bringing the man 30 miles to Castlebar Garda Station rather than to a closer station. Inspector Barry Foley told the court that it was Garda guidelines to bring a suspect to get tested by an intoxiliser if at all possible, as there can sometimes be a problem in getting a doctor to carry out a blood or urine sample. Judge Devins convicted and fined Burke €350 and disqualified him from driving for two years.
