Former TD Colm Keaveney pleads guilty to driving under influence of cocaine in Tuam
Colm Keaveney, a 54-year-old former Labour TD, pleaded guilty at Tuam District Court on 9 September 2025 to driving under the influence of cocaine and two counts of driving with no insurance. He was arrested after being stopped at a checkpoint at Cummer near Tuam on 12 June 2023, where he failed a roadside drug test and a blood sample taken at Tuam Garda station tested positive for cocaine. He was stopped again on 25 and 29 July 2024 for failing to produce a valid certificate of insurance. Judge James Faughnan requested a probation report and adjourned sentencing to 25 November 2025. Defence counsel cited a medical condition, a cocaine addiction, and care of his parents as mitigating factors, and said Keaveney has taken up a residential place in an addiction treatment centre.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted9 Sep
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Colm Keaveney, 54, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of cocaine and two counts of driving with no insurance.
- Where
- He was stopped at a checkpoint at Cummer near Tuam, Co Galway; his address is Kilcreevanty, Tuam.
- When
- He was arrested on 12 June 2023 and stopped again on 25 and 29 July 2024 for insurance issues.
- Cause
- He failed a roadside drug test and a blood sample taken at Tuam Garda station tested positive for cocaine.
- Charges
- He was charged with driving under the influence of cocaine and two counts of driving with no insurance.
- In court
- He pleaded guilty before Judge James Faughnan at Tuam District Court on 9 September 2025.
- Sentence
- Judge Faughnan requested a probation report and adjourned sentencing to 25 November 2025.
- Other details
- He had two previous convictions, including a July 2025 fine of €250 and a four-year driving ban for an incident in Boyle, Co Roscommon where he failed to stop after a collision and failed to provide a blood or urine sample.
- Defence said he was caring for his parents while suffering from a medical condition and developed a cocaine addiction; he took up a residential place in an addiction treatment centre and remains in aftercare.
- He was first elected to the Dáil as a Labour candidate in 2011, lost his seat in 2016, and was elected to Galway County Council in 2019.
19 statements extracted from the articles
- whereHis address is Kilcreevanty, Tuam, Co Galway (irishtimes.com)
- whenHe was arrested after being stopped at a checkpoint at Cummer near Tuam on 12 June 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- whenOn 25 July 2024 at Vicar Street, Tuam, Garda Michelle Hanlon stopped him for failing to produce a certificate of insurance (irishtimes.com)
- whenHe was stopped again on 29 July 2024 at the N17 Plaza, Farranamartin, Tuam (irishtimes.com)
- investigationHe failed a roadside drug test (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA blood sample taken at Tuam Garda station tested positive for cocaine (irishtimes.com)
- chargeKeaveney pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of cocaine (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe also faced two counts of driving with no insurance (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was arrested by appointment and charged with driving with no insurance (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe pleaded guilty before Judge James Faughnan (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Faughnan requested a probation report and adjourned the case to 25 November (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceIn July 2025 he was fined €250 and banned from driving for four years for an incident in Boyle, Co Roscommon (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe produced an invalid certificate on the second stop (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe had two previous convictions (irishtimes.com)
- otherIn the Boyle incident he failed to stop after a collision and failed to provide a blood or urine sample (irishtimes.com)
- otherDefence said he was caring for his parents while suffering from a medical condition and developed a cocaine addiction (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe took up a residential place in an addiction treatment centre and remains in aftercare (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe was first elected to the Dáil as a Labour candidate in 2011 (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe lost his Dáil seat in 2016 but was elected to Galway County Council in 2019 (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 9 Sep2025Former TD Colm Keaveney pleads guilty to driving under influence of cocaine
Guilty plea at Tuam District Court; sentencing adjourned to 25 November 2025 pending probation report. Defence cited medical condition, cocaine addiction, and care of dying parents as mitigating factors.
convicted, Colm Keaveney, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Colm Keaveney