Dunphy gets 10-year driving ban

BROADCASTER Eamon Dunphy was put off the road for 10 years yesterday after being convicted of driving offences for the ninth time.

Mr Dunphy, 53, was disqualified from driving and fined 1,000 following his appearance before Dublin District Court.

It is the sixth time the popular host of Today FM's Last Word show has been banned from driving. He was put off the road for seven years in 1997. The ban was lifted in 2000 on appeal.

As he left court yesterday, Mr Dunphy, who earns 1m a year, said he understood the interest in the case but said he just wanted to return to work.

His solicitor Yvonne Banbury had earlier told the court the broadcaster felt "shame and regret" and apologised for what he had done.

Mr Dunphy narrowly escaped a suspended sentence. Judge James Scally had indicated, after hearing the long list of previous convictions, he was ready to hand down a suspended sentence but changed his mind after being given details of the breath/alcohol level recorded following his arrest.

Mr Dunphy was arrested in the early hours of Sunday, October 28, 2001, by Garda Paul Kane. Garda Kane told the court he stopped Mr Dunphy in Camden Street and immediately noticed a strong smell of "intoxicating liquor" from his breath.

He took the accused to Pearse Street Station where a breathalyser test was carried out.

Mr Dunphy said nothing during the short hearing. Wearing a dark suit, he nodded when told by the judge that he was being banned from driving for 10 years and that he would have to sit his test again.

Ms Banbury, in a clear attempt to head off the possibility of a suspended sentence or even a jail term, said her client was offering his services to work with community organisations.

She added he was pleading guilty and did not wish to avail of any technicalities that might have delayed the hearing of his case. This is a reference to the ongoing court challenges to the new breathalyser to test drink-driving suspects.

Ms Banbury said Mr Dunphy had already suffered because of the great deal of publicity surrounding the case and that his appearance in court could have an affect on his future career prospects. The case had caused a huge degree of anxiety for his family, she said, adding he would not appeal for re-instatement of the licence.

The ghost writer of Roy Keane's controversial biography, Mr Dunphy is set to quit the Last Word later this year.