Louth carpenter banned from driving after positive drugs test in Wicklow
The Wicklow PeopleA Louth carpenter has been fined and disqualified from driving for a year after testing positive for cannabis during a roadside checkpoint in Wicklow.
Eoin McCabe (25), of Cappock’s Gate, Co Louth, appeared at a sitting of Bray District Court charged with one count of drug driving.
Garda Richard Loakman gave evidence that on March 30, 2025, he was conducting a checkpoint at 1.40pm near Roundwood when he stopped the accused driving a black Seat Leon.
He added that when he approached the car he got “the strong smell of cannabis”.
During a search of the car, officers uncovered €100 worth of cannabis, which the accused admitted was his.
It was noted that prior to the search, Mr McCabe was acting “fidgety” and had a “glossy look in his eyes”.
The court was told that an oral fluid drug swipe was taken from Mr McCabe. He later returned a positive result for cannabis.
Mr McCabe was conveyed to Wicklow Town Garda Station, as gardaí had “formed the opinion he was too intoxicated to drive”.
Gda Loakman said that when they arrived at the station, he contacted two medical companies who told him they had no personnel available.
A local doctor arrived at the station two hours later and took a blood sample from Mr McCabe.
The court heard that duplicate samples of the test were also given to him.
The Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) later returned the results, which confirmed that McCabe had cannabis in his system at the time of the offence.
Counsel for the defendant, David Staunton, made multiple requests to Judge Mary McAveety to direct that the matter be struck out.
He challenged the legal process involved with the initial test. Including the doctor’s specific role during the station testing process.
Judge McAveety convicted Mr McCabe, stating that “he took the sample and knew what the sample was going to be used for”.
In mitigation, Mr Staunton said his client is a fully qualified carpenter “who travels all around the country”, but due to his conviction is “most likely to lose his employment”.
The judge fined Mr McCabe €500 and disqualified him from driving for one year.
However, recognisance was fixed in the sum of €100, with no cash required, to allow for an appeal.