Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 3992Driving under the influence (drug driving) · Co. Galway · 12 Jun 2023

Former TD Colm Keaveney sentenced to community service for drug-driving

Colm Keaveney, 55, a former TD, was sentenced to 220 hours of community service in lieu of four months in jail and a three-year driving ban at Tuam District Court after pleading guilty to driving under the influence of cocaine and two counts of driving without insurance.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced27 Jan
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whenHe was arrested after being stopped at a checkpoint at Cummer near Tuam on June 12th, 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenOn separate dates in July 2024, he was stopped in Tuam while driving without a valid insurance disc. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe prior offences occurred in October 2023 in Boyle, Co Roscommon. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeHe suffered an injury in 2006 after which he became addicted to pain killers before progressing to cocaine. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationHe failed a roadside drug test and a blood sample tested positive for cocaine. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe was charged with driving under the influence of cocaine and two counts of driving with no insurance. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHe pleaded guilty at Tuam District Court on September 9th. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHe was previously banned from driving for four years in Carrick-on-Shannon District Court for failing to provide a specimen and failing to stop after a collision. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceKeaveney was ordered to carry out 220 hours of community service in lieu of four months in jail. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceHe was banned from driving for three years. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe was first elected to the Dáil as a Labour candidate for Galway East in 2011, became an Independent, then joined Fianna Fáil in 2013. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe lost his Dáil seat in 2016 but was elected to Galway County Council in 2019. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Jan2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Former TD Colm Keaveney avoids jail after pleading guilty to drug-driving

    Sentencing details including community service order, driving ban, background on Keaveney's addiction history, and prior driving offences in Roscommon.

    convicted, Colm Keaveney, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Colm Keaveney