Rock star Phil Collins’ son gets motoring ban after drink driving conviction in Kerry
Simon Collins, the son of world-famous rock star Phil Collins, has been convicted of driving with excess alcohol and disqualified from driving for six years.
This is the second time Mr Collins has been convicted under the legislation. In 2021 the 47-year-old was disqualified from driving for one year after he was detected driving under the influence of drugs. As this is his second driving related offence, he received a six year ban.
Simon Collins, who has an address at Greenane Cottage, Templenoe, Blackwater, appeared before Kenmare District Court on Friday. He pleaded not guilty to the offence of driving with excess alcohol in October 2021 at Gortamullen, Kenmare.
Mr Collins, who is also a musician, is currently working on a new album, the court was told.
Mr Collins was stopped driving by Garda Liam Hegarty after gardaí received a call about a car driving erratically. They observed the car and followed it a short distance and noted it was not keeping within its lane. Gardaí activated the vehicle’s blue lights and Mr Collins stopped the car.
Garda Hegarty spoke to the driver who said he was Simon Collins. He said he noted that his eyes were glazed and his speech was slurred. Garda Hegarty said he asked Mr Collins had he consumed alcohol to which he confirmed he had drank four vodkas.
Mr Collins was arrested and conveyed to Killarney Garda Station. He was placed under observation for 20 minutes before attempts were made to get a breath sample but due to the machine not working they were unable to get this sample.
A doctor then had to be called to the station but this took some time and it was 1.08am when a urine sample was taken.
The analysis of the urine sample returned a reading of 324mgs of alcohol per 100mls of urine.
Barrister Colm Hennessy, instructed by John Cashell solicitor, argued that Garda Hegarty should have not asked Mr Collins had he consumed alcohol and that doing so breached judges’ rules. He said Garda Hegarty had enough to base the arrest on without asking the question and said that it brought into question the integrity of his opinion. Judge David Waters said he was satisfied that Garda Hegarty had formed the opinion prior to asking the question.
Mr Hennessy BL further argued that Mr Collins’ total custody was close to the three-hour time threshold and the issue around the time spent in custody arose after the machine failed, which led to a sample ultimately been taken from Mr Collins by the doctor at 1.08am.
