A 22-year-old man who refused to provide a blood or urine sample when arrested on the suspicion of drink driving was disqualified from driving for four years at Castlebar District Court this week.
Mark Maughan, with listed address at 25 Viewpoint, Castlebar, and 21 The Hawthorns, Ballina, was observed by Sergeant Peter Hanley driving erratically at Market Square, Castlebar, on October 31 2011, at 11.20pm. The defendant was then observed outside Flynn’s Pub, Castlebar, where he was assisted out of the car by two or three others.
The garda spoke to him and got a strong smell of alcohol. The defendant was arrested and brought to Castlebar Garda Station. Maughan refused to get up from the seat and go to the doctor’s room and refused to provide a sample of blood or urine.
Maughan had no driving licence at the time.
On July 21 2012 at 11.45pm, the defendant was stopped driving on Rathbawn Road. Maughan, who was a learner driver, had no L plates displayed.
Maughan has three previous convictions
According to his solicitor, James Ward, the defendant on November 1 was out celebrating “his final day of freedom” as he was getting married the following day.
For the failure/refusal, Judge Mary Devins convicted and fined him €500 and disqualified him from driving for four years. For not having insurance he was convicted and fined €300 and disqualified from driving for one year concurrent. For not having a driving licence he was convicted and fined €50. For not having a driving licence on July 21 he was convicted and fined €100.
