A former detective garda was convicted of a drink-driving offence at Carrickmacross District Court in Co Monaghan yesterday.
Noel McMahon, Foxfield, Carrickmacross - a key witness in the Morris tribunal which is investigating Garda corruption in Co Donegal - was convicted on a guilty plea in his absence.
He was fined €1,000 and disqualified from driving for four years.
Judge Flann Brennan was told by the prosecution that McMahon, who has been dismissed from the Garda, had a previous conviction for drink driving in 2001, when he was disqualified from driving for two years.
McMahon through his solicitor, Mr Conor McGuill, Dundalk, pleaded guilty to the latest driving offence, which occurred at Magheross, Carrickmacross, on March 30th, 2003.
Garda Edward Quinlan of Monaghan Road Traffic Corps said that while on patrol along with Garda Mark Gaynor he observed a car making "two wobbles" on the roadway.
When they stopped the vehicle and spoke to the driver they got a strong smell of alcohol.
Garda Quinlan said that when McMahon was asked for his name he said: "F***sake...do you not know who I am?"
The court heard that a urine specimen taken from the accused gave an alcohol reading in excess of the legal limit.
Mr McGuill said the accused, who is separated, was not in good health.
He was not proposing to call any evidence on behalf of the accused.
Judge Brennan, in convicting McMahon, said the defendant's licence must also be endorsed.