A Mullingar man who told gardaí he would refuse point blank to take an alcohol test has lost his licence for six years.
John Doran of Ladestown, Co Westmeath was stopped at Blackhall, Mullingar on December 12 last at 1.45am but later refused at the garda station to give a sample.
“I’m not taking the test,” he told gardaí.
The 40-year-old has a previous conviction for drink driving dating back to 2006 when he was disqualified for two years and fined €1,000.
Mr John Quinn said his client, an unemployed horticulturalist, has a difficulty with alcohol but has had help and has spent time in Cuan Mhuire and is involved with Alcoholics Anonymous.
He has no car at the moment and is coping and “hoping all things will work out”.
Mr Doran didn’t know why he wouldn’t agree to give the sample, and knew that he should have, but was on anti-depressants at the time.
He was fined €1,000.
