KILDARE: Four-year driving ban and fine imposed on Newbridge man for drug-driving offence

A Newbridge man was handed down a four-year driving disqualfiication (DQ) and a fine for a drug-driving offence.

The 40-year-old man was convicted by Judge Desmond Zaidan at Naas District Court on Thursday, October 12 last.

It was heard that on September 4, 2021, Neil Corr, with an address listed as 3 Langton Park in Newbridge, was caught driving while under the influence of cannabis on the Green Road in Newbridge.

Mr Corr indicated a guilty plea to this offence earlier this year.

Gardaí added that he was caught driving with no insurance at the time of the offence.

Mr Corr has eight previous convictions, two of which are for driving with no insurance, two for driving without a valid licence, and one for driving without valid tax.

The judge was told that Mr Corr had previous drug-driving convictions, a fact which was highlighted to the judge by defending barrister Mark Gibbons.

However, he also said that his clients offences 'speak for themselves.'

Mr Gibbons added: "It's not a very good record, but he is not driving anymore."

In addition, he pointed out that while his client did have two previous driving DQs, they were imposed for historical offences: from 2002 and 2010 respectively.

Judge Zaidan admitted that he initially considered imposing a custodial sentence on Mr Corr, but took into account that his two previous DQs were historic.

However, he did stress that the offence Mr Corr committed 'was serious.'

For his no insurance offence, Judge Zaidan imposed a four-year driving DQ on Mr Corr, in addition to an extra six month DQ for the drug-driving offence, which will run concurrently with the first DQ.

The judge also imposed a €500 fine on Mr Corr, and ordered him to pay it within three months.