A Conamara man with 72 previous convictions was put off the road for ten years after pleading guilty to drink driving.

Oisín Ó Laoi of Cregg, Lettermullen admitted drink driving and driving without insurance or a licence at 1.20am at Tír an Fhia, Leitir Móir on April 21, 2024.

The 26-year-old was disqualified from driving when he was detected by Garda Brendan Folan.

The defendant was in custody on a separate offence when he appeared in Derrynea District Court last week.

Prosecuting Sergeant Damien Prendergast said Ó Laoi’s alcohol reading was 257 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine.

This was almost four times the legal limit of 67mls alcohol per 100mlts urine.

Defence solicitor Michael Cunningham said his client was serving a sentence in Castlerea Prison for another matter and was due out in October 2027.

Mr Cunningham said Ó Laoi had completed a driver awareness course and had completed six-months course of anti-booze medication for alcohol issues.

Judge Lydon noted the defendant looked healthier than last time he was before her.

Ó Laoi confirmed to Judge Lydon that he was studying for the Leaving Cert in prison and his subjects included English, maths, and health and fitness.

Sergeant Prendergast said the defendant was disqualified from driving at the time of this detection. He was also serving a suspended sentence and this latest conviction might trigger that suspension in what’s known as a Section 99, he said.

Judge Lydon imposed a ten-year driving disqualification and marked a six-month concurrent prison sentence for drunk driving with no insurance and licence taken into account.

She asked that he be produced by the Prison Service at Galway Circuit Court on October 29 regarding the suspended sentence.