DRINK DRIVING BAN FOR MONAGHAN CO COUNCILLOR

Fianna Fáil member of Monaghan Co Council Seamus Coyle has been disqualified from holding a driving licence for a period of three years following a conviction for a drink driving offence at Cavan District Court last week. Councillor Coyle, from Mahon, Latton, Castleblayney, pleaded guilty to committing the offence in the Cootehill area of Co Cavan on April 11 last year. He was also fined €500. Judge Raymond Finnegan acceded to an application by defending solicitor Martin Cosgrove and postponed the commencement of the disqualification until September 1 next. The court heard that the defendant’s alcohol/blood reading of 186 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood was more than three times the legal limit. Previous convictions for refusing to give a blood or urine sample when legally required by the Gardaí and driving without insurance were listed against the defendant. Mr Cosgrove said his client had previously spent time in residential treatment, and requested that the driving ban be deferred for a period to allow Councillor Coyle to get his affairs in order.