Motorist who refused to provide sample test put off road for 4 years
A YOUNG motorist who refused to provide a test sample at a garda station after he was stopped in Lucan has been put off the road for four years.
Joseph Hanley (24) “didn’t help himself” when he failed to give a sample in a garda station.
Blanchardstown District Court
Judge David McHugh disqualified him and fined him €250 at Blanchardstown District Court.
Hanley, a father-of-three with an address at Drom Na Coille Avenue, Ballyowen Lane, Lucan, pleaded guilty to uninsured driving and failing to provide a blood or urine sample.
Garda David O’Sullivan said he stopped the accused driving at the M4 Lucan on December 8 last year.
He failed a roadside test for cannabis and cocaine and the garda arrested him. He was brought to Lucan Garda Station, where he refused to provide a sample.
Hanley had previous convictions for driving offences. Defence solicitor Simon Fleming said if the accused had co-operated with the gardai in the station, the penalty would have been lower but there was a mandatory four-year ban for a refusal and Hanley “didn’t help himself in any way in that regard”.
He “seems like a pleasant young man,” Mr Fleming said.
Judge McHugh fined the accused €150 for the refusal and banned him from driving for four years. He was fined another €100 for having no insurance, with a concurrent two year ban.
The judge said he was taking account of the accused’s family commitments in setting the fines.
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