Politics

Former TD Colm Keaveney withdraws from local elections due to drug driving charge

Galway Fianna Fáil councillor (53) accused of driving under the influence of drug last June

Colm Keaveney will not contest the local elections amid his drug-driving charge. Photograph: Cyril Byrne
Colm Keaveney will not contest the local elections amid his drug-driving charge. Photograph: Cyril Byrne
John Fallon
Tue Apr 16 2024 - 09:54

Former Galway East TD Colm Keaveney has withdrawn from the local elections after being accused of driving under the influence of cocaine.

The former Labour politician lost his Dáil seat in 2016 but was elected to Galway County Council in 2019 as a Fianna Fáil candidate for the Tuam electoral area.

He has told Fianna Fáil that he is not seeking relection. The party confirmed that sitting councillors Mary Hoade, Donagh Killilea and Joe Sheridan would go forward in Tuam along with Tom Quirke.

Mr Keaveney was first elected to the Dáil as a Labour candidate in 2011. He then became an Independent before joining Fianna Fáil in 2013.

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The 53-year-old, with an address at Kilcreevanty, is before the courts on a charge of driving under the influence of cocaine. The offence is alleged to have happened on June 12th last at Cummer, Tuam.

It is alleged he drove a vehicle with cocaine in his system and that the concentration of the drug – known as Benzoylecgonine – in his blood was greater than the legal threshold, contrary to the Road Traffic Act 2010.

The case came before the courts initially in January and again last week. Mr Keaveney was not in court for either of the brief hearings. The matter is due before Tuam District Court on June 11th for a plea or a date for hearing.