West Cork carpenter given year-long driving ban after failing roadside drug test

Gardaí stopped the defendant, who was driving at up to 110km/h on an 80km/h stretch of road in Macroom, where he failed a roadside breath test for cannabis, the court heard

Court heard the defendant had five previous convictions, including driving without insurance, theft and drink-driving.

A Ballingeary carpenter who tested positive for cannabis after gardaí stopped his Audi while it was travelling at up to 110km/h has been banned from driving for a year.

Mark Cronin, 44, of Carrignadoura, Ballingeary, accepted the facts at Macroom District Court.

The court heard an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) scan identified an untaxed Audi A6 travelling at about 100km/h to 110km/h on an 80km/h stretch of road at Lissacresig, Macroom, on May 28, 2024.

A Garda patrol followed the car, activated its blue lights and stopped Cronin. 

He failed a roadside drug test for cannabis and was taken to Macroom Garda Station, where a blood sample returned a reading of 16.8ng. 

The court heard Cronin had five previous convictions, including driving without insurance, theft and drink-driving.

Defence solicitor Jack Purcell said an error had been made in his client’s address on the certificate. 

Judge Joanne Carroll said it was clearly a spelling mistake and the sample plainly related to Cronin. 

Mr Purcell said Cronin worked as a carpenter and was now caring for his two elderly parents and looking after the family farm.

Judge Carroll disqualified Cronin from driving for 12 months. In light of his circumstances, she imposed no further penalty.

• This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme