FORMER Galway East TD and member of Galway Co Council Colm Keaveney appeared again before Tuam District Court on Tuesday this week where, at the request of his solicitor, he had his sentencing put back until December 9 to allow Judge James Faughnan to deal with the case.
Keaveney pleaded guilty to one drug-driving offence and two charges of driving without insurance at a September sitting of Tuam Court. The completion of a Probation report was ordered by Judge Faughnan before sentencing who said if the report was positive he would deal with the matter accordingly.
On Tuesday Gearóid Geraghty solr. (defending ) asked that the matter be further adjourned, as Judge Faughnan who is familiar with the case was not present. He said Judge Faughnan had heard legal submissions in relation to the case and was also due to adjudicate on an issue relating to the Medical Bureau of Road Safety costs. Judge Michael Connellan adjourned matters until the December 9 sitting for finalisation.
Evidence was heard at an earlier sitting of Keaveney being stopped while driving a Ford Focus at Cummer, Tuam on June 12, 2023. He failed a roadside drug test and was arrested and brought to Tuam Garda Station where he provided a blood sample. This showed he had cocaine in his system.
Keaveney was disqualified from driving at Carrick-on-Shannon Court on July 22 last, for refusing to provide a sample when stopped by Gardaí on suspicion of a similar offence. He was involved in a collision in Boyle, Co Roscommon on October 10 last and pleaded guilty to failure to provide a sample offence and failure to remain at the scene of an accident.
Judge Faughnan was told that the Medical Bureau sought payment of €1,971 for the analysis of the defendant’s blood sample.
Keaveney was stopped by Gardaí at Vicar Street, Tuam on July 25, 2024 and failed to produce insurance when demanded. Four days later he was stopped again in the same vehicle and again failed to produce evidence of being insured to Gardaí.
Gearóid Geraghty solr (defending ) said his client was born in 1971 and fell into addiction as a result of personal circumstances and medical issues. His brother died in 2016 and he took up the responsibility of looking after his parents who died within a week of each other. His client attended services to deal with his addiction issues and remained in aftercare.
On the matter of driving without insurance, the defence argued that his client had changed insurers and because of some bureaucratic confusion was unaware that he was not covered when he was stopped twice within days.
Mr Geraghty noted that his client had suffered from the significant media interest in his case as a result of his former high profile. He was now on disability allowance.
Judge Faughnan said at the time that Keaveney had a “significant fall from grace.”
This article is funded by Comisiún na Meán.
