Drug driving case against former TD adjourned to April

A case involving a former TD arrested and charged last June with driving while there was cocaine in his system, has been put back for hearing to 9 April next.

53-year-old Colm Keaveney, with an address at Kilcreevanty, Tuam, Co Galway is charged with driving his car while there was a quantity of Benzoylecgonine, commonly known as cocaine in his system contrary to the Road Traffic Act.

The offence is alleged to have occurred at Cummer Tuam, Co Galway on 12 June last.

Mr Keaveney is a former TD for both Labour and Fianna Fáil, and is currently a councillor on Galway County Council.

A former Trade Union official and Chairman of the Labour party, he was elected as a Labour TD in Galway East in the 2011 general election, the first Labour candidate ever to do so in that constituency.

But he lost the party whip in 2012, and then sat as an independent TD before joining Fianna Fáil.

Mr Keaveney lost his Dáil seat in the 2016 general election, but won a seat on Galway council in the local elections of 2019.

He was not required to be in court and was not present when his case was called at Tuam District Court.

The court heard it was the first calling of the case, and his legal team is seeking a statements order in relation to the matter.

Judge James Faughnan adjourned the matter to a sitting of Tuam District Court on 9 April next.