A 68-year-old man, who has 40 previous convictions, was before Ballina District Court on Tuesday for a drink driving charge.
Inspector Joe Doherty outlined that on Saturday August 28 2010 at 2.15pm, in the area of Knockegan, Ballina Garda John Barrett observed a tractor drive in the middle of the road towards the patrol car. Garda Barrett stopped the tractor which was being driven by Michael O’Hara, Behy, Crossmolina.
The defendant was arrested for drink driving; a blood sample later obtained gave a reading of 242mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. O’Hara was also disqualified from driving at the time of the incident — with a 20-year driving disqualification in effect.
Michael Bohan, solicitor for the defendant said that “drink has been his clients demon” as this man has had a long history of alcohol abuse and now suffers from a range of ailments. Mr Bohan said that O’Hara, a father of three, resides on his own but his wife, from whom he is separated, visits him on a daily basis. The solicitor said that the defendant had used the tractor for farming purposes but had taken it out on the road on various occasions. On the day in question the defendant had visited Carr’s shop to purchase alcohol.
The court heard that O’Hara has now been off alcohol for six months, due to the fact that his doctor has told him that he is at “death’s door” if he drinks again.
O’Hara told the court that he has been a law abiding citizen. Judge Mary Devins told him to cut out all the “nonsense and sympathy” as the disabilities which he has “have been inflicted by yourself... all because of your drinking”. The judge told him, “You could have killed many, many people on the road, most recently in May... you have no respect for the law and no respect for yourself”.
O’Hara said that he would not drive on the road again, but said he would on his farm. Inspector Joe Doherty said that he has a duty to protect people on the road and said that the tractor should be sold, a commitment of which the defendant should give.
Judge Devins adjourned the case to July 27 so the inspector could be satisfied that the tractor has been sold, and if “he is dry” she will adjourn the case further. The judge also gave gardaí the liberty to re-enter.
