A defendant who pleaded guilty to driving with cocaine in his system when stopped by Gardaí has ​​been fined €450 and banned from driving for a year.

Martin Ward (28) of 69 Cullairbaun, Athenry, Galway was arrested by Gardaí at 5:30 p.m. on February 13, 2023 in Market Square, Longford.

Mr Ward failed a roadside saliva test for cocaine, and a subsequent blood test showed he had cocaine in his system above the legal limit.

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The defendant’s lawyer, Fiona Baxter, said her client did not want to delay the case and was pleading guilty to “get the matter over with.”

Mr Ward could have had his case adjourned pending the outcome of the review of the High Court decision of O’Flaherty which confirmed that Gardaí had no implied power to detain a driver pending the outcome of a Roadside saliva drug test.

Ms Baxter described her client as a hard-working father of one child with another on the way. She said Mr Ward wanted to put this matter behind him and “get back on track”.

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Judge Owens recorded a conviction and imposed a fine of €450 with five months’ payment. The defendant was also banned from holding a license for one year.