Ireland Motorist fined and banned for refusing blood sample in Carrick-on-Shannon
A 48-year-old man, Adrian Forbes, was stopped while driving a blue Peugeot 308 in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, on 30 May 2024. Gardaí found no valid insurance and expired vehicle tax, and Forbes was arrested and taken to Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Station, where he refused to provide a blood sample. He faced several road traffic offences, and he disputed a roadside oral fluid test that Garda David Finnegan said was positive for cocaine. Carrick-on-Shannon District Court found the blood sample refusal proven and entered a conviction, and the latest development, reported on 2 June 2026, is a €750 fine and a four-year driving ban for that offence, plus a €300 fine for driving without insurance.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced2 Jun
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Adrian Forbes, a 48-year-old man, was stopped while driving a blue Peugeot 308.
- Where
- The stop took place in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim.
- When
- The stop took place on 30 May 2024.
- Investigation
- Gardaí found the vehicle had no valid insurance and its tax had expired.
- Forbes admitted at the roadside that his insurance had expired about a month earlier.
- Garda David Finnegan said a roadside oral fluid test was positive for cocaine, but Forbes disputed that result.
- Other details
- Forbes was arrested and taken to Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Station.
- Forbes refused to provide a blood sample.
- Charges
- Forbes faced a number of road traffic offences, including refusing a blood sample and driving without insurance.
- In court
- Forbes admitted knowingly driving without insurance and had no previous convictions.
- The judge found the refusal to provide a blood sample proven despite defence arguments and entered a conviction.
- Sentence
- For refusing the blood sample, Forbes was fined €750 and disqualified from driving for four years.
- For driving without insurance, Forbes was fined €300 and given six months to pay.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whereForbes was stopped while driving a blue Peugeot 308 in Carrick-on-Shannon. (leitrimobserver.ie)
- whenThe stop took place on 30 May 2024. (leitrimobserver.ie)
- investigationGardaí found there was no valid insurance and the vehicle tax had expired. (leitrimobserver.ie)
- investigationGarda Finnegan said a roadside oral fluid test was positive for cocaine. (leitrimobserver.ie)
- chargeForbes faced a number of road traffic offences. (leitrimobserver.ie)
- courtForbes admitted knowingly driving without insurance. (leitrimobserver.ie)
- courtForbes disputed that the roadside drug test was positive. (leitrimobserver.ie)
- courtForbes had no previous convictions. (leitrimobserver.ie)
- sentenceFor the blood sample offence Forbes was fined €750 and disqualified from driving for four years. (leitrimobserver.ie)
- sentenceFor the no-insurance offence Forbes was fined €300 and given six months to pay. (leitrimobserver.ie)
- otherForbes was arrested and taken to Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Station. (leitrimobserver.ie)
- otherForbes refused to provide a blood sample. (leitrimobserver.ie)
- otherThe judge found the prosecution had proven the case and entered a conviction. (leitrimobserver.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 2 Jun2026Motorist who claimed Leitrim Gardaí 'targeted' him loses licence for Four Years
Court report on the conviction and sentence of Adrian Forbes. The incident dates from 30 May 2024. The article states the roadside drug test result was disputed by the defendant.
convicted, Adrian Forbes, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Adrian Forbes