Latest news with #ColmKeaveney
Sunday World
24-07-2025
- Sunday World
Former TD banned from driving after refusing to provide urine sample after crash
Colm Keaveney (54) appeared before Judge Sandra Murphy at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court Ex Fianna Fáil TD Colm Keaveney banned from driving for four years after refusing to give a blood or urine sample following a late-night collision last year Former TD Colm Keaveney has been banned from driving for four years after refusing to give a blood or urine sample following a late-night collision in Co Roscommon last year. Keaveney (54), of Kilcreevanty, Tuam, Co Galway, appeared before Judge Sandra Murphy at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court on Tuesday. He pleaded guilty to two offences including failing to stop at the scene of an accident and refusing to provide a blood or urine sample following his arrest. All offences related to an incident where Keaveney drove on the wrong side of the road, without his headlights, and collided with another car, in Co Roscommon last October. He had been charged with dangerous driving, driving with no insurance and failure to produce his driving licence, but all three charges were struck out. Keaveney was initially elected as a TD for the Labour Party for Galway East in 2011. He subsequently joined Fianna Fáil. Colm Keaveney He was most recently a councillor on Galway County Council, but did not stand for last year's local elections. Inspector Gerry Curley told Judge Murphy that Keaveney had been observed by Garda Colm Dowd driving a Ford Focus on Bridge Street, Boyle, Co Roscommon, on October 11 last year. The court was told the car was on the wrong side of the road, with no lights on, and collided with a Kia Ceed. Inspector Curley said Gda Dowd observed the Ford Focus failing to stop after colliding with the Kia and continuing a distance along the street before pulling over. 'Very apologetic' for the incident. The court heard that when Keaveney got out of the car, Gda Dowd noted he was 'glassy-eyed' and there was 'a strong smell of alcohol'. Keaveney was arrested and brought to Carrick-on-Shannon garda station, where a nurse attended after 11pm to take a blood sample. Keaveney declined to allow the nurse take a blood sample or to voluntarily provide a urine sample. Judge Murphy was told Keaveney had opted to plead guilty to refusing to provide a sample, contrary to section 12 of the Road Traffic Act. He also pleaded guilty to failing to stop, having collided and caused damage to another vehicle during the same incident, contrary to Section 106 of the Road Traffic Act. Solicitor Martina Moran, of Gearoid Geraghty Solicitors in Galway, told Judge Murphy that her client was 'very apologetic' for the incident. Judge Sandra Murphy She said Keaveney was a 55-year-old self-employed man who, at the time of the offences, had been on heavy medication following spinal surgery. She told Judge Murphy that her client scratched against the other vehicle and did not immediately stop because he was looking for a safe place to pull in. He is very apologetic and understands it was a serious matter 'It wasn't the case he was trying to evade gardaí,' Ms Moran said. At the time of the incident, Keaveney had lost two parents in quick succession and had been a carer for both. The court was told he has no previous convictions. Colm Keaveney. Photo: Tom Burke Ms Moran handed in a medical report detailing Keaveney's back injury, and Judge Murphy asked was it the suggestion that his back problems interfered with his driving during the episode. 'No, it is in the past, but it is a recurring problem,' Ms Moran said. 'He is very apologetic and understands it was a serious matter.' Judge Murphy noted there was 'a difficult background' with the case, and said Keaveney was 'not a person commonly before the courts'. She disqualified Keaveney from driving for four years on the refusal to provide a sample, and also fined him €250. The other offence pleaded to was taken into consideration.
RTÉ News
23-07-2025
- RTÉ News
Former TD Colm Keaveney banned from driving for four years
Former TD Colm Keaveney has been banned from driving for four years after refusing to provide a blood or urine sample to gardaí following a late-night road incident in Boyle, Co Roscommon. The former Labour TD for Galway East, who later joined Fianna Fáil, lost his Dáil seat in 2016 but returned to politics in 2019 when he was elected to Galway County Council. Mr Keaveney (54), of Milltown Road, Tuam, Co Galway, appeared before Judge Sandra Murphy at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court on 22 July, where he pleaded guilty to two charges: failing to provide a specimen under Section 12 of the Road Traffic Act, and failing to stop after a collision under Section 106. The incident occurred on 11 October last year when gardaí observed a Ford Focus being driven without lights through Boyle. The car veered to the wrong side of the road before colliding with a white vehicle that was waiting at a junction. The State solicitor told the court that the driver, identified as Mr Keaveney, did not stop after the collision and continued driving before eventually pulling over on St Patrick Street. When approached by gardaí, the court heard Mr Keaveney was unsteady on his feet, had glassy eyes, and smelled of alcohol. He was arrested and taken to Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Station, where he refused to provide a blood or urine sample to a designated doctor, despite a formal demand. His solicitor told the court that Mr Keaveney had no previous convictions and had been dealing with significant personal difficulties, including the recent loss of both parents. He also suffered from chronic back pain due to previous spinal surgery and had requested to see his own doctor at the garda station, which was not possible. He has three children, two adult and one infant. "Mr Keaveney is not the sort of person you would expect to see before the court," she said, noting his cooperation and the absence of any previous convictions. Judge Murphy imposed a €250 fine and a four-year disqualification from driving. Several other charges, including no insurance and no licence, were struck out after valid documentation was provided. Mr Keaveney was charged on 11 June 2024 with driving under the influence of drugs, relating to an alleged incident on 12 June, 2023.
BreakingNews.ie
23-07-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Former TD Colm Keaveney banned from driving for four years
Former Labour and Fianna Fáil TD Colm Keaveney has been banned from driving for four years after refusing to provide a blood or urine sample to gardaí following a late-night incident in Boyle, Co Roscommon. Keaveney (54), of Milltown Road, Tuam, Co Galway pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen under Section 12 of the Road Traffic Act and failing to stop after a collision. Advertisement Appearing before Carrick-on-Shannon District Court on Tuesday, Judge Sandra Murphy imposed a €250 fine and a four-year disqualification from driving. Other charges, including no insurance and no licence, were struck out after he produced valid documents. The incident occurred on October 11th, 2024, when gardaí observed a Ford Focus being driven without lights through Boyle. The vehicle veered across the road and collided with a car waiting at a junction, but did not stop. When approached, Keaveney appeared intoxicated, was unsteady on his feet, had glassy eyes, and smelled of alcohol. Advertisement He was arrested and brought to Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Station, where he refused to provide a blood or urine sample to a designated doctor despite a formal demand. His solicitor said Keaveney had been under significant personal strain, including the recent deaths of both parents and ongoing chronic pain from spinal surgery. She said he had no previous criminal convictions and had asked to see his own doctor at the station, which was not possible. A long-time figure in politics, Keaveney was elected to the Dáil in 2011 as a Labour TD for Galway East. He lost the party whip in 2012 over a vote of conscience on a Government plan to cut an annual care grant as part of the 2013 budget and later joined Fianna Fáil, becoming the first sitting TD to cross directly between the two parties. He lost his Dáil seat in 2016 and later served one term on Galway County Council.
Irish Times
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Former TD Colm Keaveney banned from driving for four years for refusing to provide sample to Garda
Former Labour and Fianna Fáil TD Colm Keaveney has been banned from driving for four years after refusing to provide a blood or urine sample to gardaí following a late-night incident in Boyle, Co Roscommon. Keaveney (54), of Milltown Road, Tuam, Co Galway appeared before Judge Sandra Murphy at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court on Tuesday. He pleaded guilty to two offences: failing to provide a specimen under Section 12 of the Road Traffic Act and failing to stop after a collision. The incident occurred on October 11th, 2024, when gardaí observed a Ford Focus being driven without lights through Boyle. READ MORE The vehicle veered across the road and collided with a car waiting at a junction, but did not stop. It was later pulled over on St Patrick Street. When approached, Keaveney appeared intoxicated, was unsteady on his feet, had glassy eyes, and smelled of alcohol. He was arrested and brought to Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Station, where he refused to provide a blood or urine sample to a designated doctor despite a formal demand. His solicitor said Keaveney had been under significant personal strain, including the recent deaths of both parents and ongoing chronic pain from spinal surgery. She said he had no previous criminal convictions and had asked to see his own doctor at the station, which was not possible. He is a father of three, including an infant. 'Mr Keaveney is not the sort of person you expect to see before the court,' she said, citing his background and cooperation. Judge Murphy imposed a €250 fine and a four-year disqualification from driving. Other charges, including no insurance and no licence, were struck out after he produced valid documents. A long-time figure in politics, Keaveney began his political career on Tuam Town Council in 1999 and was elected to the Dáil in 2011 as a Labour TD for Galway East. He lost the party whip in 2012 over a vote of conscience on a Government plan to cut to an annual care grant as part of the 2013 budget and later joined Fianna Fáil, becoming the first sitting TD to cross directly between the two parties. He lost his Dáil seat in 2016 and later served one term on Galway County Council.
Irish Times
10-06-2025
- Irish Times
Former TD Colm Keaveney's drug-driving case adjourned for 11th time
The case against former Galway East TD Colm Keaveney who has been accused of drug driving and having no insurance has been adjourned for the 11th time. His defence solicitor informed the court there were medical issues that needed to be addressed. Mr Keaveney, a former Labour and Fianna Fáil TD, was present in Tuam Court on Tuesday when his solicitor Gearóid Geraghty informed Judge James Faughnan there would now be a plea to all matters. Mr Keaveney (54), of the Milltown Road, Tuam, Co Galway faces a charge of driving while under the influence of cocaine, as well as a no insurance charge, after he was stopped and arrested in Tuam on June 12th, 2023. The defendant has also been charged with driving without insurance on July 25th, 2023 at Vicar Street, Tuam when stopped by a garda. READ MORE Three days later he was again detected by the same garda for allegedly driving without insurance at the N17 Plaza in Tuam. Initially, the court was told the defendant would be contesting the drug-driving charge on the grounds there was an inordinate delay of three months between the Medical Bureau of Road Safety testing his blood sample for alcohol, and the test for drugs and that the sample remained unsealed in the meantime. However, Mr Geraghty told Tuam Court a plea would be entered to all offences as he sought a final adjournment in the matter. He said 'something has arisen that I want to deal with' as he applied for the adjournment. 'There will be a plea and it won't trouble the court. There are a number of medical issues that need to be addressed,' he said. Judge Faughnan said there would be no further dates available to the defendant and agreed that the matter will be put back to the September 9th sitting of the court for finalisation.
