Farmer 'completely on wrong side of the road'

A farmer found wavering across white lines on a 1974 tractor so poorly equipped it was barely recognised as a vehicle was again before Kenmare District Court yesterday. This time the vehicle involved was a car writes Anne Lucey.

Gerry O’Shea, aged 58, of Ankail, Tahilla, Sneem, Co Kerry, was “completely on the wrong side of the road” when gardaí observed him in the early hours of March 2, Sgt Miriam Mulhall-Nolan told the court.

“Was this the man with the tractor that hadn’t a bulb or a brake? What was the vehicle this time?” Judge James O’Connor enquired and was told it was a car.

Mr O’Shea was driving towards Sneem and gardaí were behind him “and it was completely the wrong side of the road”, the sergeant said.

When he got out of the car there was a strong smell of alcohol. The reading was 84mg of alcohol per 100ml breath. He had no previous convictions. Solicitor Padraig O’Connell said his client was pleading to the drink-driving charge, and was not seeking a deferral.

A number of other charges on dangerous driving and the condition of the 20-year-old car were being withdrawn.

Judge James O’Connor convicted him on drink driving, disqualified him from driving for three years, and imposed a €150 fine.

This article first appeared in the Irish Examiner.