A part-time farmer in his 40s was convicted for two Section Two assaults on gardaí as well as for driving his tractor while intoxicated, at Ballina District Court this week.
Noel Killoran, Ballybeg, Kincon, Ballina was detected at Gurteens, Ballina on October 25 2008 at 12.55am drink driving his tractor, with a subsequent blood sample showing 91mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.
Solicitor for the defendant, Aidan Crowley, said the man, who suffers from bipolar disorder, pleaded guilty to the charge as he did to two Section Two assaults against Garda Adrian Kearns and Garda John Quinn which occurred in December 2007 — the facts of the case which were heard last February in court.
Mr Crowley said that the man, who had drunk heavily, has been off alcohol since last December, is taking medication for depression, and fully accepts his inappropriate behaviour.
For the two Section Two assaults, Judge Mary Devins ordered that €1,000 be paid to the Garda Benevolent Fund and convicted and fined the defendant a total of €1,000 and sentenced him to prison for six months, with the sentence suspended for one year. For drink driving Killoran was convicted and fined €100 and disqualified from driving for one year.
