A PROFESSIONAL drag queen who was in costume when he was detected driving while under the influence of alcohol was put off the road for 12 months and fined €500 when he appeared before Galway District Court yesterday.
When asked why he had not walked the short distance home, Eamon Cunniss told Judge Mary Fahy it would not have been safe to do so while dressed as he was.
Insp Michael Coppinger had given evidence that Cunniss (38), of Bohermore, Galway city, was stopped while driving at Eyre Square at 3.17am on February 2nd last, and arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.
A subsequent breath sample gave a reading of 43mg of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.
Solicitor Ciara Macklin, defending, said the loss of her client’s licence would cause great difficulty to him, as he was a dance teacher and performer, sometimes travelling 900 miles a week.
She said he had been taking part in a charity event for Cancer Care West the night he was stopped.
Observing that Cunniss was a five-minute walk from his house when he was stopped by Garda Mark Kerrisk, Judge Fahy said he should have found an alternative way home.
“I’m a professional drag queen, I was dressed up. I can’t walk up Bohermore dressed up,” Cunniss replied.
Judge Fahy suggested that he should always bring a pair of flat shoes out with him.
“I do, in my handbag, but it’s not very ladylike,” Cunniss said.
The defendant asked that the disqualification be postponed until February so that he could honour a number of charity events booked for over the Christmas season.
When Insp Coppinger said he had no objection to this application, Judge Fahy joked: “Maybe he’ll be going to some of those events.”
“He’d be welcome any time,” replied Cunniss.