A man convicted of driving with benzodiazepine in his system when stopped by gardaí at Kinnegad has lost his licence for 7 years and received an adjourned ten month sentence.
Michael Duignan of Abbeydearg, Keenagh in Longford received consecutive five month sentences for drink driving and driving without insurance in the Westmeath town on June 10 this year.
The court heard how he had been stopped by gardaí who were patrolling the area and that he has 23 previous convictions, including one for having no insurance.
Ms Patricia Cronin said he accepted that he was entirely wrong but had suffered from “a lengthy drug problem” involving cocaine and heroin.
The father of one had de-toxed at Cloverhill and “made some inroads” in dealing with his difficulties and was now playing football again for the first time in ten years.
Judge Neilan adjourned the sentences until December for a probation report.
