Farmer caught towing cattle to mart while disqualified

A Cloone farmer who was disqualified from driving was stopped at a Garda checkpoint in Mohill earlier this year driving a jeep and towing a cattle trailer with cattle in it.

Kevin McKeon, Cloone Village, Co Leitrim is charged with driving while disqualified at Coolabawn, Mohill on April 9, 2022.

The court heard Gardai had a checkpoint at the entrance to Mohill and Mr McKeon was driving a jeep and towing a cattle trailer with cattle in it when he was stopped.

Garda Farrell was aware that Mr McKeon was disqualified from driving. Mr McKeon has six previous convictions and was disqualified from driving in 2021 for four years.

Solicitor John McGuinness said his client was pleading guilty.

Judge Sandra Murphy noted this would be the defendant’s third conviction for no insurance and she said she was very concerned as this man was found driving just “seven months after being disqualified.”

Mr McGuinness outlined that the 28-year-old lives with his elderly mother in Cloone and had been travelling to the family farm on foot and by bicycle following his disqualification, but a neighbour asked him to bring cattle to the mart and he obliged.

Judge Murphy interjected by saying, “he knows he can’t do that.”

The court heard Mr McKeon is still a learner driver and the judge commented “that’s not good.”

She advised that he enter the driver aware programme and adjourned the matter to January 27, 2023 so she could consider her options fully.