The broadcaster Eamon Dunphy was disqualified from driving for 10 years and given the maximum €1,000 fine when he appeared before Dublin District Court yesterday.
This is the sixth time the outgoing host of Today FM's The Last Word has been banned from driving following a series of road traffic convictions stretching back 20 years.
As he left court yesterday, Dunphy said that he understood the interest in the case, but he just wanted to return to work.
His solicitor, Ms Yvonne Banbury, told the court earlier that the broadcaster felt "shame and regret" and he apologised for what he had done.
After hearing of the previous convictions, Judge James Scally had indicated that he was ready to hand down a suspended sentence, but he changed his mind when given details of the breath-alcohol level recorded.
Dunphy was arrested at Camden Street, Dublin, at 5.35 a.m. on October 28th 2001 by Garda Paul Kane. Garda Kane brought him to Pearse Street station, where a breathalyser test was carried out. He said that Dunphy presented no difficulty to the arresting gardaí.
The broadcaster remained silent during the short hearing. He nodded as he was told that he was banned from driving for 10 years and that, at the end of that period, he would have to resit his test.
Ms Banbury had earlier said that her client was offering to work with community organisations. He was pleading guilty and wished to avail of no technicalities which might have delayed the hearing. This was a reference to ongoing court challenges to the new breathalyser test for drink-driving suspects.
Ms Banbury said that Dunphy had already suffered because of the publicity surrounding the case. She added that his appearance in court could have an effect on his career prospects.