Judge hits out at Longford man over driving course no show

Seamus Kane (53) Ardnagullion, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford was given the ultimatum at a recent District Court sitting where he faced charges for drink driving, no insurance and of driving without a licence on June 18, 2022 at Toneywarden, Granard, Co Longford.

Mr Kane has previously been jailed for contempt for breaching court orders and undertakings not to interfere with the the work of receiver Myles Kirby.

The court had previously heard of how gardaí spotted a vehicle driving in an erratic manner and followed it before seeing it drive up on a grass verge.

When Mr Kane stepped out the car, he was found to be unsteady on his feet, leading to his arrest and transfer to Granard garda station.

A later blood sample taken from Mr Kane returned a reading of 236mg per 100ml of blood, showing the Edgeworthstown man to be over four times the legal limit to drive.

Mr Kane was less than halfway through a six year driving ban which was handed down in 2o2o for being caught at the wheel without insurance.

When Mr Kane last appeared before Longford District Court in February, Judge Bernadette Owens advised him she wanted to see evidence of that he was attempting to combat his dependency on alcohol.

A probation report was also directed, the contents of which were handed into the court when Mr Kane appeared in front of Judge Owens recently.

In asking his defence solicitor Bríd Mimnagh had she read its findings, the local solicitor said she had and said while the “commentary might not be great”, her client was making progress.

Judge Owens asked Ms Mimnagh why Mr Kane did not show up at a pro social driving course.

The programme aims to target high risk groups of drivers who are initially identified through the justice and legal system.

Mr Kane replied, saying he had been at an auction in England at the time with Ms Mimnagh backing those remarks up by insisting Mr Kane did not “go willy nilly” to the UK.

In reading directly from the probation report, Judge Owens highlighted how Mr Kane had sought to “minimise” his offending.
Ms Mimnagh said Mr Kane had since reapplied to undergo the aforementioned driving course and was remorseful.

“He accepts responsibility for his actions,” she said, adding she had also spoken to Mr Kane’s partner who confirmed he was “not drinking at all now”.

Ms Mimnagh said despite the charges he stands accused of, Mr Kane was someone who was attempting to try and start a fresh chapter in his life.

“He is caught between a rock and a hard place,” she said.

“His job is as a mechanic and he can’t test drive cars. He comes to the court as a man who left school in his early teens and has a very strong work ethic.”

Mr Kane was remanded on bail to a sitting of Longford District Court on June 20, 2023 when it is anticipated that he will have completed the said pro social driving course.