A man who pleaded guilty to failing to provide a breath specimen at a Garda station, was fined €1,000 and disqualified from driving for four years, at Mullingar Court last week.
Yuriy Karhin (56 ), 68 Ginnell Terrace, Mullingar, was convicted of the offence which occurred at Mullingar Garda Station on June 8 last. The operation of the disqualification was postponed by Judge Neilan to March 1, 2009. Charges of being intoxicated and failing to comply with a direction to leave the area by Garda Gerry Keaney, at Mount Street, Mullingar, on the same date were dismissed.
The court heard that the defendant was observed driving erratically and crossing the white line. He failed to provide a breath sample at Mullingar Garda Station and gave no reason. Yuriy Karhin has no previous convictions.
Mr Louis Kiernan, solicitor, told the court that his client, a Ukranian national, was in Ireland for three months, working with a stone company. He was fully co-operative and accepted that he would have been in a better position, had he given a sample. Mr Kiernan said that the public order offences occurred later that night, when he was still confused regarding what happened.
A letter which the defendant wrote with the assistance of his Irish friends was handed into court. Recognisances were set for appeal purposes, at €100 (self ) and an independent surety of €100.
