Carpenter looking at jail sentence for third drink driving offence

A carpenter, who already has two previous convictions for drunken driving, was convicted of his third offence after he was found to be over the limit when breathalysed on his way to work early one morning.

Michael Trowell (36), Killeeneen, Craughwell, pleaded guilty before Galway District Court to his third drink driving offence which was detected at Dublin Road, Galway, on June 28 last year.

He also pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and without insurance or a driving licence.

A breath sample taken at the time showed a reading of 33mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

Sergeant Cathal Rodgers, prosecuting, said Trowell was a disqualified driver at the time, having been convicted at Gort District Court two months earlier – on April 26, 2018 – of his second driving offence. He was disqualified from driving for three years, with the disqualification coming into effect two weeks later.

The court heard his first drink driving conviction was recorded in Gort in 2010, when he was also disqualified for three years.

Defence solicitor, Sean Acton, said his client was a self-employed carpenter who was detected at 9am on his way to work.

Judge Mary Fahy said Trowell had shown a blatant disregard for the previous disqualification orders.

Mr Acton explained Trowell had employed an apprentice to drive him around in his van, but this man had medical problems and had to go to hospital on the morning his client was stopped.

He said Trowell needed to get tools to a job in Forster Street and he took a chance and drove himself.

Trowell, he said, had insured the other man to drive and that insurance policy had recently been renewed.

Judge Fahy said Trowell was looking at a custodial sentence because he had shown a total disregard for court orders by driving only a month after being disqualified last year.

Mr Acton submitted that Garda Ray Quinn, who had detected his client, had actually brought Trowell to his job in Forster Street after he had been processed at the Garda Station that morning.

“Garda Foley accepted my client needed to keep the job going,” Mr Acton explained.

“It’s really, really putting the finger up now and obviously, he couldn’t have insurance either because he was disqualified at the time,” Judge Fahy observed.

She indicated Trowell was looking at a custodial sentence, but following further submissions from the solicitor, she agreed to adjourn the matter to September 23 for Trowell to be assessed by the probation service as to his suitability to carry out community service in lieu of a sentence and for Garda Quinn to come to court to give his opinion on the matter.

Mr Acton said his client had a unique set of carpentry skills which could be put to good use in the community.