Farmer, who was given time by judge to find ‘nice woman’, receives driving ban

A bachelor farmer in a remote part of south Kerry – who was given a chance to go to Lisdoonvarna to find "a nice woman" to drive him around during his disqualification for drink-driving – has been put off the road for three years.

The court in Cahersiveen, where the matter was finalised on Thursday, was not told if the farmer availed of the chance to go to Lisdoonvarna, or if he managed to find a “nice woman” who could drive.

However, the 60-year-old had managed to put “some of his affairs” in order, it was told.

John O'Shea, of Derrinadin, Mastergeeha, had previously pleaded guilty to drink driving at Tarmons, Waterville, on July 25th, 2014.

His alcohol-blood reading — 198mg per 100ml — was such that the offence carried a three-year driving ban. (The legal limit is 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood).

The matter had been adjourned a number of times.

Previous outings were told that being off the road would make it difficult for O’Shea, who lives 10km from Waterville, to care for his cows and he would have to make arrangements to get rid of them.

The court was told that, on the day in question, he had gone to Waterville for animal feed and had got so carried away by a discussion about Kerry football, in a pub, that he forgot to eat, and hit the ditch on his way home.

Judge James O’Connor suggested he might also “find himself a nice woman,” who would drive him around.

If the matter could be adjourned beyond September it would allow him to go to the matchmaking festival at Lisdoonvarna, it was agreed in court in June.

At the December monthly sitting of Cahersiveen District Court, solicitor Jane Harrison reminded Judge O'Connor how he had adjourned the drink driving case to June and then "to today, to allow him to get his affairs in order".

The judge remarked: “Oh, yes. This is the one that got a bit of an airing in the press, shall we say.”

Ms Harrison said her client had put some of his affairs in order, and was not looking for a further adjournment.

Judge O’Connor convicted Mr O’Shea of driving with excess alcohol, fined him €175, and disqualified him from driving for three years.