Flanagan appealed by letter to gardaí

Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan appealed by letter to gardaí for their “consideration” in quashing his penalty points for driving while on his mobile phone.

He assured gardaí there would be no repeat of the offence but the TD was caught again months later.

The Irish Examiner has learned that the independent TD told gardaí he first thought an incoming call he answered was an emergency relating to a close family member who was unwell.