Kelleher fined but escapes driving ban

STADE TOULOUSAIN’S former All Black scrum-half Byron Kelleher has escaped a driving ban despite pleading guilty to charges of driving under the influence of alcohol in Toulouse on September 10 last.

The 32 year-old was given a two-month suspended prison sentence and a €3,500 fine following a hearing at the Palais du Justice in the southern French city.

However, the veteran player was not banned from driving as it was found that his blood alcohol level wasn’t tested on the night in question.

French police detained Kelleher after it was alleged that the car he was driving hit another on leaving a Toulouse bar at 3am on the morning of September 10. The Toulouse player then attempted to flee the scene before being confronted by the driver of the other car where a fight then broke out between them.

During the hearing, Kelleher fully accepted the guilty verdict and said afterwards that he hoped that “the incident would now be closed”.

“The punishment delivered appears to me to be justified and corresponds to the seriousness with which I took this incident,” he said.