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Romanian man caught driving high on drink and cocaine in Longford avoids jail

The court was told Vasile Muntean had 19 previous convictions to his name

Today at 15:05

A judge has slammed a Romanian man for “putting two fingers up” to the country’s road traffic laws after he was caught at the wheel in Longford trying to dupe gardaí into believing another man was driving a vehicle when stopped while high on drink and drugs.

Judge John Brennan branded father of two, Vasile Muntean (29) formerly of Abhainn Glas, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford as the “definition of a recidivist” offender after he was found guilty of a string of road traffic offences at a sitting of Longford District Court.

Muntean had pleaded not guilty to being under the influence of cocaine and alcohol as well as having no insurance and no driving licence in place after gardaí pulled in a Fiat Panda car at Cloondara, Longford on March 18, 2022.

The accused had previously given evidence at an earlier court sitting where he had denied telling gardaí the driver of the car had fled the scene by insisting its driver and registered owner had moved from the driver’s seat and into the rear of the vehicle.

Muntean maintained throughout that he had been in the front passenger’s seat and was “100pc not driving” the car when Sergeant Paul Stuart pulled him in.

In giving his direct evidence to the court, Sgt Stuart said as he approached the driver’s door, “movement” could be seen “across the handbrake” with Muntean being found in the passenger’s seat attempting to fasten its seatbelt.“He (Muntean) is certainly the definition of a recidivist (offender),” said Judge Brennan.

He said the fact Muntean was continuing to flout the rules of the road was not only an example of how rising insurance premiums were being inflicted upon young drivers, but was also indicative of his mindset in “putting two fingers up” to the State’s road traffic laws.He consequently handed down a six month prison term for the drink driving charge, suspending its duration for three years.

Fines of €300 and €200 respectively were issued for being caught at the wheel with no driving licence and having no insurance while an accompanying drug driving charge was taken into consideration.

Muntean was also ordered not to drive for four years.