Kildare driver gets fourth conviction for drink driving
Photo for illustrative purposes only
A MAN seen by gardaí overtaking at 160kph on a single carriageway, then returning an 82/100 on the breathalyser – at 10am – and then discovering he was already banned from driving for seven years, will have to return to court in October after being referred to the Probation Service to see if he could be sentenced to anything other than custody.
Willies Kamau, Woodstock Lodge, Athy was in Naas District Court to plead guilty to five charges stemming from his actions on the morning of 14 April 2023.
Immediately, Inspector Pat Kelly told the court that because of Kamau’s guilty plea, the state would withdraw two counts of dangerous driving (S53), but would progress with all other charges.
“Gardaí came across a car on the Dublin Road [R448] in Kilcullen at 10am overtaking an ESB van at 160kph,” said Insp Kelly.
“When stopped, the defendant gave a reading on breath of 82/100 [microgrammes per millilitres], discovered he was disqualified for seven years, had no licence or no insurance,” he read grimly.
Kamau had 12 previous convictions, three for drink-driving, one for refusing a sample, one for dangerous driving, with the last one coming in 2019.
“That is an appalling record and I’m not even going to try and justify it,” said defending solicitor Tim Kennelly.
“I shouldn’t even say this, but he tells me his girlfriend called to say she wasn’t feeling well, that’s why he was driving at these speeds,” he said.
“It wasn’t even on the motorway, but a single carriageway road in Mooretown,” noted the judge.
“My client is working in a well-renowned restaurant in Naas as a chef, he is not without talent, but he is a rapscallion when on alcohol,” said Mr Kennelly.
“However, the birth of his son four months ago has changed him,” he added.
“I mean, not to blackmail the court – you don’t do that, you have to deal with this deplorable, despicable behaviour – but he’s been to prison for six months and hated it, so if he could engage with [Probation] Services, we’re hoping different methods could be employed,” he said.
“I take it, in the two years since this incident, he hasn’t come to the state’s notice?” asked the judge.
“No, judge,” confirmed the inspector.
“I agree with Mr Kennelly, this was deplorable behaviour, 160 on a single-carriageway road, and while disqualified, which is aggravating, but I note the job in a very good restaurant, he’s clearly very talented, he’s been to jail and it seems not to work,” noted the judge.
“No doubt he’d be released in a week or two if given six months in prison, but then would lose his job and would have to apply for social welfare, and that’d be another burden on the state,” mused the judge, contemplating a Probation referral.
Mr Kamau was referred to a probation officer, who must report back to the court on 16 October to establish whether the defendant is suitable for anything other than a custodial sentence.
