Friday 30 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. 14467Drink driving · Co. Longford · 26 Jan 2025

Longford man fined and banned for drink driving after being spotted with no lights on

On 26 January 2025 at 1.05am, gardaí on mobile patrol at a Tesco car park in Longford saw a motorist driving with no lights on, followed the vehicle and stopped the driver near Bannon Terrace. Cormac Harte, a man from Corboy, Edgeworthstown, Longford, was arrested after gardaí noticed slurred speech and glassy eyes, and a breath test at Longford Garda Station gave a reading of 53mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. He pleaded guilty to drink driving at the local district court, and Judge Owens imposed a €500 fine with five months to pay and a two-year driving ban, which was postponed for six months at his request. The ban postponement is the latest development reported.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced21 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Cormac Harte, a man from Corboy, Edgeworthstown, Longford, was charged with drink driving.
Where
Gardaí on mobile patrol saw the vehicle with no lights on at the Tesco car park in Longford.
When
The offence took place on 26 January 2025 at 1.05am.
Investigation
  • Gardaí followed the vehicle and stopped the driver near Bannon Terrace.
  • Gardaí noticed the driver's speech was slurred and his eyes were glassy, and he was arrested.
  • A breath test at Longford Garda Station gave a reading of 53mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.
Other details
  • The legal limit is 22mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.
  • Harte said he did not drive on any public roads.
Charges
Harte pleaded guilty at the local district court to drink driving.
In court
  • Harte asked for a six-month postponement of the disqualification, and the judge and gardaí agreed.
  • Source dates differ: the tracker lists 21 February 2025, while the article byline gives 23 February 2025 as the publication date.
Sentence
Judge Owens imposed a €500 fine with five months to pay and a mandatory two-year driving ban.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereGardaí were on mobile patrol at Tesco car park when they observed a motorist driving with no lights on. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe offence took place on 26 January at 1.05am. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí followed the vehicle and stopped the driver near Bannon Terrace. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí noticed the driver's speech was slurred and his eyes were glassy, and he was arrested. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationA breath test at Longford Garda Station gave a reading of 53mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtCormac Harte pleaded guilty at the local district court to drink driving. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtHarte asked for a six-month postponement of the disqualification, and the judge and Gardaí agreed. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Owens imposed a €500 fine with five months to pay and a mandatory two-year driving ban. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe legal limit is 22mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherHarte said he did not drive on any public roads. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 Feb2025
    Sentencedlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Longford drunk driver had 'no lights on' when detected by Gardaí

    Court outcome for a drink-driving case: €500 fine, two-year ban postponed six months at the defendant's request, and details of the Garda detection and breath test.

    convicted, Cormac Harte, male, named, irish (judged from name)Cormac Harte