A Kilkenny man who will soon be leaving Ireland to go to Australia was recently handed a disqualification for a drink driving offence.
John Phelan (26) of Coolmeen, Ballyhale, Kilkenny, appeared at a sitting of Waterford District Court recently, and pleaded guilty to drink driving, contrary to Section 4 of the Road Traffic Act 2010, relating to an incident where he was stopped by Gardaí in the early hours of 12 October, 2025.
The court was told that on that night, Gardaí observed a driver pulled in at the side of the road in an area near Mullinavat, Co. Kilkenny. The driver, who was identified as the accused, was arrested after he failed a roadside breath test. After he was brought to a Garda Station, his breath reading was found to be 51 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath.
It was noted that the accused was cooperative with the Gardaí and has no previous convictions. He was represented in court by Ciarán P Murphy BL, on behalf of solicitor Hilary Delahunty, who asked Judge Staunton to consider holding off imposing any disqualification until 1 March if possible, as his client will be going to Australia then.
Judge Kevin Staunton said that on the basis that the accused was cooperative, has no previous convictions and was pleading guilty to the charge, he would impose a two year disqualification from driving from 1 March. The Judge decided not to hand the accused a fine.
Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
Robyn Power
