Mayo court hears Banshees of Inisherin worker's arrest was a 'blessing in disguise'

A WICKLOW man who founded his own dog treats business after he was disqualified from driving agreed his arrest may have been a blessing in disguise.

Ciprian Wolf with an address of 7 Seahaven, Greenhills Road, Wicklow appeared before Achill District Court where he was successful in an application to restore his driving licence.

In January 2023, Mr Wolf was disqualified from driving for three years after he was convicted of drink driving in Achill in the early hours of September 26, 2021. The court heard that at the time he was working on the set of the Hollywood movie, The Banshees of Inisherin.

Mr Wolf applied for a restoration of his licence after he had completed two thirds of his three year disqualification. He told Judge Fiona Lydon that he lost his job in the film industry as a result of the conviction and disqualification but has since set up his own business making dog treats.

He added the loss of his licence has been an extreme inconvenience as he has to wait for his wife to finish work to do deliveries and is totally dependent on her.

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Mr Wolf told his solicitor Thomas Walsh that he had learned 'several' valuable lessons after he was caught drink driving and would not do it again.

When asked by Judge Lydon if getting caught was a 'blessing in disguise' as it led to him starting his own business he replied 'I suppose, yes'. He added he has no employees but the business was growing.

“I cannot afford to pay myself a salary yet because it is only a year and a half old. We are getting the customer base at the moment and everything is going on advertising but it is growing. Hopefully after a year I will be able to draw a salary,” he said.

Judge Lydon added that he should be grateful to his wife for supporting him in the business while she also holds down her own job.

After Sergeant Conor McShane said the State had no objection to the application, Judge Lydon granted the restoration with immediate effect and also wished Mr Wolf the best of luck and fortune in his business.