Saturday 31 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. 19780Drug driving · Co. Longford · 27 Jun 2021

Man banned for one year after drug driving in Longford

On June 27, 2021, at about 11:20am, gardaí operating a speed checkpoint at Edercloon, Bornacoola, Longford stopped a car travelling at 136kph in a 100kph zone. The driver, Ben Makin, a 25-year-old man, was charged with drug driving after a subsequent test detected cannabis in his blood. He pleaded guilty at Longford District Court, and in September 2023 the judge recorded a conviction, imposed a €350 fine and disqualified him from driving for one year.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced20 Sep
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Ben Makin, a man aged 25, pleaded guilty to a drug driving charge.
Charges
The charge was that he drove a mechanically propelled vehicle while having excess cannabis in his system.
When
The offence took place on June 27, 2021, at about 11:20am.
Where
Gardaí were operating a speed checkpoint at Edercloon, Bornacoola, Longford.
Cause
The car was stopped for travelling at 136kph in a 100kph zone.
Investigation
  • Officers noted the driver's eyes were glassy when they spoke to him.
  • A subsequent test detected cannabis in the defendant's blood.
Other details
  • The defendant said he began smoking cannabis after a break-up with his girlfriend of ten years.
  • The defendant said he now accepts that starting to smoke cannabis was a bad decision.
  • The article's sentence line reads 'a fine of €350 years', which appears to be a typo.
In court
  • The case was heard at Longford District Court.
  • The defendant's solicitor said he had never been in court before.
Sentence
  • The judge recorded a conviction and imposed a fine of €350.
  • The defendant was disqualified from driving for one year.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatBen Makin pleaded guilty to a drug driving charge. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereGardaí were operating a speed checkpoint at Edercloon, Bornacoola, Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe offence took place on June 27, 2021. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationThe driver's eyes were glassy when gardaí spoke to him. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationA subsequent test detected cannabis in the defendant's blood. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge recorded a conviction and imposed a fine of €350. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant was disqualified from driving for one year. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe car was stopped for travelling at 136kph in a 100kph zone. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe defendant's solicitor said he had never been in court before. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe defendant said he began smoking cannabis after a break-up and now accepts it was a bad decision. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Sep2023
    Sentencedlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Man caught drug driving began smoking cannabis after split from girlfriend, Longford court hears

    First report of this case. Gives the incident date (June 27, 2021), the checkpoint location, Makin's age, his cannabis use after a break-up, and the fine and one-year ban. The article's sentence line reads 'a fine of €350 years', which appears to be a typo.

    convicted, Ben Makin, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ben Makin