Court appearance | 

Former TD and serving councillor charged with driving under influence of cocaine

Mr Keaveney (53) of Kilcrevanty, Tuam Co Galway was summonsed to appear before Judge James Faughnan at Tuam District Court

Eavan Murray

Today at 14:30

Former TD and serving Fianna Fáil Councillor Colm Keaveney has been charged with driving under the influence of cocaine.

Mr Keaveney (53) of Kilcrevanty, Tuam Co Galway was summonsed to appear before Judge James Faughnan at Tuam District Court on Tuesday.

It is alleged Mr Keaveney on June 12, 2023, at Cummer, Tuam Co Galway drove a car while under the influence of cocaine.

It is alleged that within three hours of being stopped by gardaí, the level of Benzoylecgonine (a metabolite of cocaine) was present in his blood at a level of 924.0 ng/ml.

Contrary to Section 4(1A) of the Road Traffic Act 2010.

Mr Keaveney did not appear in court but was represented by Solicitor Martina Moran.

Ms Moran told Judge Faughnan it was the first time the matter was listed and sought a statement order from prosecuting gardaí.

Ms Moran asked the matter be returned to a later sitting of Tuam District Court.

Sergeant Christy Browne the court presenter suggested the matter be listed again on April 9th, 2024 to which Judge Faughnan agreed.

Colm Keaveney is a serving Fianna Fáil County Galway Councillor for the Municipal District of Tuam.

Colm Keaveney has served as both a Labour and Fianna Fáil TD.

He was elected as a Labour TD in the Galway East constituency in the 2011 general election and is a former Chairman of the Labour Party.

After losing the Labour whip in December 2012 he sat initially as an Independent TD.

He resigned from the Labour Party in June 2013 and joined Fianna Fáil in December.

He lost his seat at the 2016 general election but returned to local politics and was elected to Galway County Council in 2019.