A judge has said that a motorist was allegedly 64 times over the legal limit for cocaine driving and the reading is the highest reading yet he has come across.
At Kilrush District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett made his comment where Jonathan Kenny (36) formerly of Elm Drive, Kilrush and now of Querrin, Kilkee, is facing two separate charges of driving with high levels of cocaine in his system last year.
In response to Judge Gabbett’s comments, Mr Kenny said from the body of the court “the machine was broken” and that he is charged with being 62 times over the cocaine limit for driving rather than 64 times over the limit.
In the case, Mr Kenny is charged with on October 29th 2024 at Lifford Rd, Ennis, driving his 11LM registered vehicle where there was the presence of cocaine and Benzoylecgonine (cocaine) in his system.
The charge states that within three hours after driving, the concentration of the drug in his blood was cocaine at 227.9ng/ml and Benzoylecgonine (cocaine) at 3075.7ng/ml.
The charge is contrary to section 4(1A) of the Road Traffic Act 2010 as inserted by section 8(a) of the Road Traffic Act 2016 and contrary to section 4(5) of the Road Traffic Act 2010.
The legal limit for cocaine driving is 10ng/ml while the legal limit for Benzoylecgonine (cocaine) driving is 50ng/ml.
Judge Gabbett said that he was “not happy” about either of the drug driving summons.
He said: “There is a public safety issue here. This is really serious and I want the cases moved on very quickly. I will put it in for a special hearing very fast.”
Judge Gabbett said: “This is not someone accused of being intoxicated while driving this is someone accused of being paralytic while driving.”
Mr Kenny is represented by two solicitors, Daragh Hassett and Patrick Moylan concerning different charges he is facing before the court.
Mr Moylan requested Garda disclosure in the case.
Judge Gabbett said that “there is a reading of 3075.7ng/ml. What more do you need to know?” and Mr Moylan said that “there are usually technical defences in these cases”.
In the second ‘cocaine’ driving charge, Mr Kenny faces a charge of driving his 11LM vehicle on December 4th 2024 at Moore Street, Kilrush where there was present in his system cocaine and Benzoylecgonine (cocaine).
The charge states that the reading on that date in his blood was cocaine 206.4ng/ml and Benzoylecgonine (cocaine) 2292.2ng/ml.
Mr Kenny faces a separate charge on July 22nd this year of having with him at Sycamore Drive Kilrush Clare a five foot cylindrical iron bar intended by him to unlawfully intimidate a person.
Judge Gabbett said that Mr Kenny’s bail conditions are quite strict and adjourned the case to October for further disclosure to be made by Gardai before then.