Man convicted of careless driving and possession of cocaine has turned his life around, court hears

Mallow District Court told accused would offer a plea of guilty to careless driving, and was also pleading guilty to possession of small amounts of cannabis on two occasions and cocaine on one occasion at Holycross, Charleville, Co Cork

For possession of cocaine, accused was sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for one year, and placed under probation service supervision for six months.

A van driver who was stopped because he was driving in a careless manner and admitted to possession of cannabis and cocaine has been drug-free for more than a year, the district court was told.

Detective Garda Brendan McGarry told Mallow District Court that Kevin Mullins, aged 30, of Evanwood, Castletroy, Co Limerick, was the driver of a white Renault Master van that was observed driving at Newberry near Mallow on August 26, 2023. 

Det McGarry said the van was going around bends too quickly, causing it to sway on its rear suspension.

Det McGarry said while Mullins’ driving “wasn’t great”, road conditions were good on what was a warm summer's evening at 6.30pm. 

He conceded the accused’s driving was at the “lower end” of the criteria for dangerous driving, and could reasonably be considered as careless driving.

The court was told Mullins would offer a plea of guilty to the lesser charge of careless driving, and was also pleading guilty to possession of small amounts of cannabis on two occasions and cocaine on one occasion at Holycross, Charleville, Co Cork, on November 17, 2023. 

The court heard Mullins had 18 previous convictions, and had been disqualified from driving since the incident in question for drug-driving.

Defence solicitor Cathal Lombard said his client had been fully co-operative at all times and had subsequently been in prison. 

He said Mullins had gone through a traumatic period in his life where a “number of serious illnesses” had affected those close to him. He said Mullins had been drug-free for over a year, was engaging with addiction services and the probation service and had been in employment. 

He said Mullins had also completed a pro-social driving course.

Judge Colm Roberts said: “I hope you are the person your solicitor says you have become”, and agreed to reduce the dangerous-driving charge to one of careless-driving. He convicted Mullins of that offence, disqualifying him from driving for one year and imposing a fine of €250, with one month to pay. 

For possession of cocaine, he was sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for one year, and placed under probation service supervision for six months. The two charges of possession of cannabis were taken into consideration.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme