A young man who “made an error of judgement” recently appeared in court for driving with cannabis in his system.
Miguel Deleca (21) with an address at 12 Manor Court, Mountmellick, Laois, appeared before a sitting of Waterford District Court earlier this month before Judge Kevin Staunton. He pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while exceeding the drug limit, contrary to Section 4 (1)(A) of the Road Traffic Act 2010.
Sergeant Alan Hayes told the court that at 10.50am on 10 October 2025, Gardaí stopped the accused while driving at Kilbarry Road, Waterford city. They conducted a search of the vehicle, and brought the accused to Waterford Garda Station after a roadside test came back positive for cannabis.
Sgt Hayes said the accused admitted to smoking cannabis, and a subsequent test found that the level of cannabis in his system was over the legal limit.
Acting for the defendant, solicitor Ken Cunningham highlighted that the accused is a young man with no previous convictions and no other pending matters before the court. Mr Cunningham acknowledged that a mandatory disqualification will have to be imposed on his client, and asked the court if this could be deferred for a month.
Judge Staunton said that as the accused is “a young man who made an error of judgement,” he would not impose a fine.
The judge disqualified him from driving for 12 months, effective from 1 October 2026.
Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme Robyn Power
