A case against former Labour TD Colm Keaveney, who is accused of drug driving in Co Galway, has been further adjourned pending legal submissions.
Mr Keaveney (54), of Milltown Road, Tuam, has been charged with driving with cocaine in his system, contrary to the Road Traffic Act. He was arrested at Cummer, Tuam on June 12th, 2023.
Tuam District Court on Tuesday heard evidence from a member of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety regarding the procedure of testing the sample taken from the accused.
It is the defence’s contention that the sample taken from Mr Keaveney was initially tested for alcohol. It is argued there was a delay of three months between the time the sample was tested for alcohol and drugs, and that it was not in a sealed container during this period.
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The bureua’s Olivia Johnson told Judge James Faughnan she was familiar with the analysis carried out on the sample in question. She said staff at the bureau do not have advance indications on what they are specifically testing for.
Ms Johnson said Mr Keaveny’s sample arrived at the bureau in a sealed container. The seal was broken to allow for access to the sample, which was found to contain no trace of alcohol when it was first tested on June 16th, 2023.
Ms Johnson said the blood was then listed for toxicology testing, in line with standard practice. She told the court samples awaiting such analysis were placed in a queue and the test for drugs was carried out sequentially and as soon as practicable.
Mr Keaveney’s solicitor, Gearoid Geraghty, asked the witness if the sample had been placed in a sealed container before being stored for further tests.
Ms Johnson said that while this was not the case, the blood bottle was kept in a locked fridge, in a locked laboratory, to which access was restricted.
The case has now been adjourned for the ninth time to the May 10th sitting the court, when a date will be set for hearing.
