A man who when observed by gardaí to be on his mobile phone, was followed and observed to drive at high speeds and who was then arrested on suspicion of drink driving, was convicted and fined €550 and disqualified from driving for two years.
Castlebar District Court heard that on September 27 2009 at 11.20pm in the Ballintubber area of Claremorris, Garda John Flanagan observed the driver of a white Vauxhall Astra on his mobile phone. Gardaí followed the car and observed the vehicle reach speeds of 160 kilometres per hour and observed the vehicle to veer slightly to the left and right of the road. Gardaí stopped the vehicle which was driven by Paul Thomas, Clooncundra, Castlebar. The defendant failed a roadside breath test and later gave a breath sample which showed 61mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.
Thomas who is employed and has no previous convictions was convicted, fined and disqualified by Judge Mary Devins.
