Joe Dolan in court on drink driving charge

THERE’S no show like a Joe show – even when it comes to a courtroom showdown.

The legendary showband showman was in court yesterday to face a charge of drink driving. And following lengthy legal argument, he'll be back in court again on September 11.

Judge Mary Martin dismissed appeals by his counsel Justin McQuaid about the validity of three garda summonses issued and served in connection with the case.

Gardaí served at least one of the summonses on his client at a concert, the court heard.

They did so because they could not find him at the address of Dominick Street, Mullingar, which he gave to gardaí when he was stopped at Cullahill, Co Laois on December 10, 2001, the court heard.

Garda Derek Duggan said he had called to Dolan's apartment above the family pub on several occasions but that he was not there.

Legally, it could have been served on any member of his family but he said he did not see fit to serve it on a family member in the bar.

Judge Martin also dismissed claims by Dolan's counsel that too much time had elapsed since the alleged offence, which was now a year and eight months past.

Joe Dolan was neatly dressed in a khaki suit and shirt as the planned sitting of Castlecomer District Court in Co Kilkenny had to be transferred 20 miles down the road to Portlaoise.

Judge Martin ordered the transfer after the key-holder for the county Kilkenny court building failed to turn up.

"Sorry for this inconvenience," Judge Martin said as she began the sitting.

Joe Dolan sat with his arms folded through two hours of cases before his was finally called.

And after an hour of legal argument about the summons and the delay in processing the case, he emerged exhausted looking, but smiling for the awaiting fans and the cameras.

Flanked by his manager, Seamus Casey, he even signed autographs at the lunchtime adjournment for gardaí in the court foyer.

Asked what he might say to fans who may be disappointed by his appearance before the court on such an allegation he said:

"What can I say to my fans? I love you."

He admitted that from his seat in the second last row in the courtroom, he wasn't able to hear much of what was going on.

"I found court rather frightening. And September 11 what a date to be coming back to court on," he added.