‘Gentleman’ drink driver who tried to evade garda checkpoint banned for two years

A married father who attempted to turn away from a checkpoint while more than two times over the legal alcohol limit to drive has been banned from driving for two years.

Tibin Joseph (37) of 5 Green Road, Mullingar, Westmeath, pleaded guilty to drink driving following an incident at Robinstown Link Road, Mullingar, Westmeath on September 5, 2025.

Garda Mevyn Henson gave sworn evidence that Mr Joseph had been at the wheel of a 252 registered vehicle when, at approximately 11.10pm, he turned from a checkpoint gardaí had been conducting at the time.

The court heard Mr Joseph was arrested a short time later and taken to Mullingar Garda Station.

Two samples taken from the accused returned a reading of 46 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath, more than double the 22 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath limit.

Garda Henson also noted Mr Joseph’s level of co-operation throughout, describing him as being “at all times a gentleman”.

Defence counsel Andrea Callan, BL, corroborated that when asking Garda Henson to reassert the respectful way her client had dealt with gardaí on the night in question.

“He (Mr Joseph) apologises, he was completely cooperative and was going to a house in The Downs but unfortunately didn’t realise he was over the limit,” she said.

Ms Callan said the upshot of the incident and following guilty plea was now going to create a “very significant” difficulty for her client as she asked for maximum period of postponement on Mr Joseph’s disqualification.

Judge Bernadette Owens granted that request as she banned Mr Joseph for the mandatory two years, directing its commencement from September 4.

Mr Joseph was also handed a €450 fine and given five months to pay.