Driving with cocaine in his system sees man lose licence for three years
A MAN who tested positive for cocaine while driving his girlfriend’s uninsured car has been disqualified from driving for a total of three years and fined €700. Luke Brennan (31) from Gilbertstown, Rathoe appeared before Judge Geraldine Carthy at Carlow District Court facing charges of drug-driving, driving without insurance and speeding.
The court heard that on 9 April 2025, Garda Keane was carrying out a speed check on Tullow Road in Chapelstown when he observed a car exceeding the speed limit. When the vehicle was pulled in, the driver produced a full licence. However, when a fixed-charge penalty notice was issued, it was noticed that the vehicle was owned by Leah Kavanagh, who was the only named driver on the insurance policy.
“I noticed Mr Brennan was unphased, zoned out; his pupils were black, dilated,” Garda Keane told the court.
Suspecting the defendant was under the influence of an intoxicant, the garda procured oral swabs from him on the side of the road, which tested positive for cocaine.
Mr Brennan was arrested and brought to Carlow Garda Station and the vehicle was seized under section 41 of the . A doctor on call came to the station to take a blood sample, which was sent for analysis. It tested negative for alcohol but positive for a concentration of 701mg/ml of cocaine.
When asked by solicitor Mr Hogan if the defendant had been co-operative, the garda replied: “He was very co-operative.”
The court heard that Mr Brennan had four previous convictions, the most recent being from 2024 for failing to produce insurance and a valid driver’s licence. He also had a conviction dating from an offence in 2021 for possession of drugs for sale or supply, for which he received four years in prison, which was suspended for six years.
Judge Carthy remarked that “this would be a triggering offence”.
Mr Hogan said his client had told him he had his own valid insurance policy but that it was for a different vehicle. The one he was driving on the day was his girlfriend’s car. He asked the court to “be as lenient as possible” now that the defendant was back in the workforce since October 2025.
Judge Carthy convicted and fined Mr Brennan €400 and disqualified him from driving for one year for drug-driving. He was fined €300 and disqualified for two years for having no insurance. The speeding charge was taken into consideration.
