A FIANNA Fáil backbench TD has been fined €300 and disqualified from driving for 12 months after he pleaded guilty to drink-driving in Co Cork last summer.
Cork South West TD, Christy O'Sullivan, Tawnies, Clonakilty, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol in his system on the Western Rd, Clonakilty, on June 2nd, 2008.
Garda Brian O'Flynn of Bandon told Clonakilty District Court he was operating a mandatory breath-test checkpoint when he stopped Mr O'Sullivan driving his 07 Toyota Landcruiser at about 9.25pm. He asked Mr O'Sullivan for a breath sample which tested positive for alcohol and he then arrested him on suspicion of drink-driving and brought him to Clonakilty Garda station where Mr O'Sullivan provided a blood sample. The sample was found to have an alcohol concentration of 88 mgs of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood - some 8mgs of alcohol above the legal limit, said Garda O'Flynn. He said Mr O'Sullivan had no previous convictions and was very co-operative.
Supt Pat Maher, Clonakilty, said he received a phone call from Mr O'Sullivan the following day apologising for his behaviour and for causing embarrassment to gardaí by his actions.
Mr O'Sullivan's solicitor, Eamonn Murray, said his client was extremely upset and embarrassed by his misjudgment and the mandatory disqualification would be a major inconvenience for him in his constituency work.
Judge James McNulty noted several mitigating factors including that Mr O'Sullivan was marginally over the limit, had no previous convictions, apologised to gardaí and pleaded guilty at an early stage.