A man was yesterday given a six-year driving ban and a €3,000 fine following a drug-driving incident. Judge Ann Watkin also imposed a three-month suspended sentence on Damien Gilson (35), who was found guilty of driving under the influence of cannabis, on September 8th, 2010.
Gilson had been tailgating and dangerously overtaking cars in Dublin before gardaí stopped him and found a half-smoked cannabis joint in the 08 registration Land Rover Discovery, along with more cannabis stashed in one of his socks.
Judge Watkin said Gilson of Raglan Road, had prior criminal convictions for assault and careless driving, had lied in court and showed no remorse. He was lucky not to be going to jail. She made an order that he cannot be in alone in a car while under probation supervision. “If the driver gets out of the car you get out,” she warned him at Dublin District Court.