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22 Oct 2025

Man given third driving disqualification escapes jail term

A man with two previous driving disqualifications is banned for a further five years but has jail term suspended
Man convicted for drink driving for third time escapes jail


A man who with two previous drink driving convictions was last week convicted again for drink driving and driving while disqualified.
Paddy McDonagh (58) of Shraheen, Aughagower, was fined a total of €2,500 and received a five-year disqualification and a three-month suspended prison sentence.
The court heard that on January 10, 2012, at 12.40pm, Garda Thomas Fleming pulled over a jeep driven by Mr McDonagh. On smelling alcohol from McDonagh, Garda Fleming arrested and cautioned him when he admitted to not having a driver’s licence.
The court heard that on providing a breath sample, Mr McDonagh gave a reading of 21mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.Judge Mary Devins noted that Mr McDonagh was ‘just barely over the limit’, and defence solicitor Karen O’Malley informed the court that her client had a drink problem.
Judge Devins told the farmer, who had two previous disqualifications, that he ‘completely ignored the disqualification’.Mr McDonagh  said the car was “going for scrap”.

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