Corkman taking drug-driving test told gardaí: 'I will definitely fail. I was in Amsterdam'

On the date of the offence, gardaí were following accused but were not in active pursuit of him, when he was observed overtaking a car on a continuous white line on the approach to a bad bend, court told

Accused's oral fluid test was positive for cannabis, court heard. File picture: Robbie Reynolds

A man stopped on the roadside by gardaí so he could provide an oral fluid test told officers he knew he was going to fail it as he had been in Amsterdam the previous weekend.

Colm O’Regan, of 32 Newbridge Park, Skibbereen, had been spotted driving erratically by gardaí near Ballinscarty in West Cork.

At Skibbereen District Court, Sergeant Tom Mulcahy said that on the date of the offence gardaí were following Mr O’Regan but were not in active pursuit of him, when he was observed overtaking a car on a continuous white line on the approach to a bad bend.

Sgt Mulcahy said when gardaí stopped the vehicle, a blue Toyota Avensis, they asked Mr O’Regan, 27, to undergo an oral fluid test. It tested positive for cannabis, with Mr O’Regan then taken to Bandon Garda Station, where he provided a blood sample. It later showed he was over the limit for cannabis.

Mr O’Regan’s solicitor, Colette McCarthy, told the court when her client was stopped he told gardaí, “I will definitely fail. I was in Amsterdam at the weekend.” 

Ms McCarthy told Judge John King that Mr O’Regan had been a self-employed gym instructor but had had some personal difficulties, which he had now addressed, adding he was in “a better place”.

She said he was now back undertaking physical training and was working with the ESB and that at the time of the incident he had just returned from Amsterdam where consuming cannabis is legal.

Mr O’Regan pleaded guilty to the charge of driving while intoxicated, receiving a one-year disqualification from driving, effective from next May, and a fine of €300.

The father-of-one also pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of careless driving, for which he was fined €300.