Terminally ill defendant gets driving ban
high contrast image of Judge gavel on a blue wooden background
“WHAT can I say? I wish you well,” said the judge after disqualifying a man who has only six months to live from driving for three years.
The 44-year old man with an address in Newbridge was detected by gardaí on 21 July last year outside his home, and when breathalysed returned a reading of 89 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath.
“Any ban will be utterly irrelevant, as my client has six months left to live. Liver cancer,” said solicitor Tim Kennelly at Naas District Court, of his very jaundiced client.
“He had been an alcoholic all his life,” he clarified.
“Surely they can put him on a transplant list?” enquired Judge Desmond Zaidan.
“He has exhausted all avenues, and just wants to put all this behind him so he can enjoy what time he has left,” said Mr Kennelly. “He’s being treated in Naas [General Hospital] but he’s been to all the specialists."
“Alright. No fine and a three year ban,” the judge ruled.
