Professional golfer given suspended prison sentence over drink driving charge
The Wicklow PeopleA professional golfer has received a lengthy driving ban and suspended prison sentence, after being found nearly five times over the legal alcohol limit.
PGA professional Conor Keown, with an address at Farm Lane, Greystones, County Wicklow, appeared before Bray District Court.
He was charged with one count of driving or attempting to drive while intoxicated.
The court heard that at approximately 1am on August 29, 2024, gardaí received reports of a 2011 grey BMW driving on the wrong side of the road. A caller followed the vehicle to a house in Greystones, where it allegedly came to a stop and collided with a parked black Land Rover. The caller remained on the line until An Garda Síochána arrived at the scene.
Garda Adam Taylor of Bray Garda Station told the court it took several minutes and multiple attempts to wake the driver of the BMW, who was identified as Mr Keown.
When the accused woke up, he was arrested and taken to Bray Garda Station, where a doctor took a blood sample at 3am. The sample was sent to the Medical Bureau and results returned on September 5 showed Mr Keown had a blood alcohol reading of 240mg per 100ml of blood, almost five times over the legal limit.
During cross examination, defence barrister Simon Wilson BL questioned whether any damage had occurred and if his client had the keys in his hand. Garda Taylor confirmed Mr Keown did have the keys, but explained the BMW starts by push button rather than a traditional key.
The court was told two witnesses recorded videos of the incident, with Mr Wilson arguing that the videos were more prejudicial than probative.
Mr Wilson also asked whether the car was parked in a driveway and argued that as Mr Keown was asleep, he was not attempting to drive and was on private land. Garda Taylor said he made no further enquiries.
One witness told the court he had been out driving with friends when he noticed the defendant stopped in the middle of the road and appearing unresponsive. He said he knocked on the window but received no reply, adding that he heard Mr Keown mutter “no”.
The witness claimed Mr Keown then drove off, before pulling into a Circle K to perform a u-turn.
It was established the witness followed the accused for between 10 and 20 minutes until he pulled into his parents’ driveway.
Counsel for the defence argued there was no proper identification, stating the witness could not recall what roads were taken and was not local to the area, submitting there was insufficient evidence that Mr Keown had been driving.
Sandra Keown, the golfer’s mother, told the court she is aware of what car her son drives and became alerted to the incident after looking out her bedroom window.
Mr Wilson submitted it would be fundamentally unjust to convict his client. However Judge David Kennedy disagreed, stating that the State had proved its case.
Mr Keown was sentenced to three months imprisonment, suspended in full, a three year driving ban and fine of €2,000.
Defence counsel said a criminal conviction would be detrimental to Mr Keown’s golfing career as he is due to work in America and noted he has no previous convictions.
“I do not understand adults who get into a car and jeopardise their future,” Judge Kennedy said, adding that Mr Keown had put other road users at risk.