Galway driver banned after cocaine taken at party shows up in test

A MAN who was detected driving with cocaine in his system was disqualified from driving for one year and fined €1,000.

Lee Bewick (44) of 3 Inchaquinn House, Main Street, Headford, Co Galway appeared before Castlebar District Court charged with drug driving on June 11, 2023.

Garda Vincent O'Boyle told the court he was conducting a checkpoint at Glencorrib at 2.25pm when he stopped a Ford Focus driven by the defendant. He conducted a roadside drug test which tested positive for cocaine and Mr Bewick was arrested. A subsequent blood sample confirmed the presence of cocaine in Mr Bewick's system.

Ms Cathy McDarby, solicitor for Mr Bewick said her client admitted trying cocaine at a party on the Friday and did not realise the drug would still be in his system when he was detected driving on the Sunday afternoon. She said he held his hands up and apologised for the offence and added it will not happen again.

Ms McDarby told Judge Fiona Lydon that this was her client's first time to take cocaine but admitted that he has taken drugs and he would be positive if he took a hair follicle test. She added that he informs her that he does not require the supervision of the Probation Services to deal with any drug issue.

The court heard that Mr Bewick had no previous convictions and Judge Lydon banned him from driving for one year and imposed a €1,000 fine.