Cork electrician disqualified for 12 months after failing roadside cannabis test

Clonakilty District Court heard the electrician co-operated with gardaí and had no previous convictions, while a separate possession charge was struck out

The defendant pleaded guilty at Clonakilty District Court to drug-driving and possession of cannabis. File picture: Getty

A Rosscarbery electrician has been banned from driving for a year after a roadside drug test and subsequent blood analysis confirmed he was over the legal limit for cannabis.

Oisín O’Duffy, 33, of Downeen Cross, Rosscarbery, pleaded guilty at Clonakilty District Court to drug-driving and possession of cannabis.

The court heard that gardaí were operating a checkpoint in Rosscarbery on June 5, 2026, when a silver Volkswagen Passat driven by O’Duffy approached at about 8.40pm.

O’Duffy failed a roadside drug test. Gardaí detected a strong smell of cannabis and searched the car. He voluntarily handed over a small bag containing cannabis valued at about €12.

O’Duffy was taken to Bandon Garda Station, where a blood sample later confirmed he was over the legal limit for an offence carrying a mandatory one-year driving disqualification.

Court hears of work implications 

Defence solicitor Conrad Murphy said O’Duffy had no previous convictions, had made full admissions and had been fully co-operative.

Mr Murphy said his client worked as an electrician for a large company that regularly carried out work abroad, and that a conviction could have implications for him. He said O’Duffy had not used cannabis since August 25.

Judge Joanne Carroll noted O’Duffy’s co-operation, admissions and lack of previous convictions. She convicted him of drug-driving and imposed the mandatory 12-month disqualification. The possession charge was struck out.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme