Longford solicitor leaves court in hysterics when telling judge: ‘Even when you are wrong, you are right’

Frank Gearty made the light-hearted remark when defending a client after he had pleaded guilty to drink driving at Moatfarrell, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford on October 6, 2022.

Fifty-eight-year-old Michael Kenny, of Moatfarrell, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford was charged with the offence following a two car collision at 1:30am.

Sgt Mark Mahon said when gardaí arrived at the scene they found two cars, one parked in a laneway and the other, a VW Transporter on the side of the road.

He said the accused, when spoken to by officers, told them he had been travelling from Edgeworthstown and noticed a van approach his vehicle from behind seconds before the two vehicles came into contact.

The court heard Mr Kenny had ten previous convictions to his name, two for drink driving and three for no insurance.

Those offences, it was revealed, occurred back during the early noughties, something Mr Gearty was quick to allude to.

He said his client was someone who “lived a very quiet life” in rural Co Longford.

“He (Mr Kenny) has a couple of tractors and he farms 12 acres of land himself,” he said, adding he was in receipt of social welfare.

Mr Gearty also said the other party involved was “very well known to the court”, adding the driver behaviour experienced by Mr Kenny was “quite aggressive”.

He said: “He is a social type of fellow and he was driving very quietly and safely and regretfully but for this incident, he would never have came to attention.

“He is very, very sorry about what happened and of course, he should not have been driving with alcohol and he will, of course, suffer very serious consequences as a result.

The case, however, took on a more entertaining side when Mr Gearty noted how Judge Owens had questioned why Mr Kenny had not had all his driving documentation with him the last day he appeared in court on March 21.

Noting how the case was not entirely dependent on affairs proceeding in the interim, Mr Gearty humorously remarked to Judge Owens: “Even when you are wrong, you are right.”

Mr Kenny was consequently banned from driving for three years and handed a €300 fine with six months to pay.

The ban itself will not come into effect until August 1 after Judge Owens agreed to an interim postponement.