Councillor banned for drink driving

Reading showed he was more than three times the legal limit

A prominent Monaghan County Councillor has been banned from driving for three years for drink driving.

Seamus Coyle, who represents Fianna Fáil as an elected member in the Ballybay Clones Municipal District area, appeared before Judge Raymond Finnegan at Cavan District Court where he pleaded guilty to an offence dated April 11, 2024.

The offence address, as per the charge sheet, was 'Dung', Cootehill, and Coyle (56), a farmer by trade with an address at Mahon, Latton, Castleblayney, provided an alcohol/blood reading of 186mg or alcohol per 100ml of blood, more than three times the legal limit.

Other charges, including alleged intoxication to such an extent to not have proper control of his vehicle at the same written location, as well as dangerous driving at Killyquill, Cootehill, and Shibbilis, were struck out.

Coyle was represented in court by solicitor Martin Cosgrove.

The court was told the defendant had three previous convictions, and none since 2017 when he was convicted of driving with no insurance and received community service in lieu of a term of imprisonment.

He also previously had a four-year ban imposed for refusing to provide a sample when legally required by gardaí.

Coyle is a former cathaoirleach of the Ballybay-Clones municipal district and, in the past, sat at the head of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly.

“It's a good reading,” stated Judge Finnegan, who was informed that Coyle was “co-operative” with gardaí.

Mr Cosgrove said his client had previously spent time in residential treatment, and asked that the imposition of the ban be postponed to allow Coyle “get his affairs in order”.

Judge Finnegan banned Coyle from driving for three years, and further convicted and fined him €500 with five months to pay.

He postponed the ban until September 1, saying: “That'll get you over a lot of the harvest.”