Minister for Agriculture Barry Cowen on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics

“I’m in public life, I have to accept responsibility for my actions. It was a serious lack of and lapse of judgement.

Mr Cowen said that, while he wasn’t driving unaccompanied on that occasion, he had done so previously while on the provisional driving licence.

The Laois-Offaly TD said he was “humiliated” and “embarrassed” by the incident but had to “accept the punishment that has been given”.

Mr Cowen said in hindsight he “maybe” should have told Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin at the time, about the disqualification.

Meanwhile

Barry Cowen says drink-driving after All-Ireland was ‘terribly stupid mistake’ (Irish Times)

Saturday: What The L Were You hHinking?

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32 thoughts on “Mea Gulpa

  1. DeSelby

    There’s plenty of fishy little bits to this story. The provisional licence at 49, the timing involved with the “two pints” followed by a match a meal, and a trip to the Garda station.

    Watch this space, as we are (hopefully) drip fed the real details.

  2. Slightly Bemused

    While I in no way condone his drink driving, the second point about expenses is silly. He would have still to travel, using either public transport, taxi, or perhaps a family member helping out. Either way, expenses would be incurred.

    1. Slightly Bemused

      It just struck me that this could be taken as implying that the ‘Sheet is silly. Not so, I refer to the original tweeter, trying to jump onto the bandwagon.

  3. GiggidyGoo

    “The Laois-Offaly TD said he was “humiliated” and “embarrassed” by the incident …..”

    Eh, no – he paid a Fixed Charge Penalty. His personal details therefore didn’t make it into the press. The payment was, for all public knowledge intents and purposes, anonymous. Electronic.

    The only thing that might (and I say ‘might) leave him humiliated and embarrassed is it coming out into the public arena. But it’s not the headline story that the MSM want us to believe it is. “FF in turmoil” the Indo informs us. Really?

    1. ReproBertie

      Interesting that you don’t believe people can be embarrassed to be found to have broken the law unless it’s made public. Personally, I’d be scarlet if I was ever caught drink driving even if nobody else ever found out.

  4. Rob_G

    How on earth does someone who, presumably, drives a lot for their job, not have their driving licence at 50 years of age…

    1. Charger Salmons

      I know.
      Almost as wierd as a Minister for Finance not having a bank account who went on to lead the country after getting a dig-out from a painter and decorator.
      Crazy times eh ?

      1. Joe F

        You’re some operator old boy. You write all your nonsense, but when someone takes you on and states something you can’t reply to, you just go and run! Boris has good points and bad points, you just see the good points in him. Chip on the shoulder old boy.

      2. Johnny

        …almost as weird as expecting me believe Del Boy built his little empire and amassed all that power driving a taxi whilst living off tips on the mean streets of Limerick…oh and also running some very lucrative side hustles… next stop Mayor.

        1. Ghost of Yep

          Also hard to believe anyone of high standing and long tenure within SF would not be privy to information that could bring solace to long suffering families.

        2. Rob_G

          The worst thing about Johnny is that, not alone that he is wrong (though he is surely), but the fact that he would out of his way to besmirch the reputation of some individual he knows nothing about in order to further his (baseless,) argument.

          (name calling removed)

        3. Johnny

          …..would you ever let the dead rest in peace…

          “Look around the table. If you don’t see a sucker, get up, because you’re the sucker.”

          Amarillo Slim,one greatest card players,I love a good rags to riches story,but c’mom tips- TIPS driving a cab in Limerick,then he parlayed these tips into some ‘interests’ in other side ventures…next thing you know he’s most powerful man in Limerick City-if you don’t pay attention or get distracted by his heartwarming ‘story’ …to question it is OMG your a racist !

          1. sidhe

            as a general rule, ignoring him is best and then he goes away

            it is, I grant you, rather difficult. he’s an excellent troll

  5. gallantman

    Has he been turning up to rural funerals, tortuously parallel parking, with “L” or “N” plates in the window?

    1. yupyup

      Has he got the full license since this incident? I presume one has to be caught in the act to be liable for penalties where you haven’t L plates and an accompanied fully licensed driver?

  6. Bill Kavanagh

    What he tried to slip under the radar in yesterday’s interview was the amount of drink he had taken. He said he had two pints before the game, BUT he was stopped at 8pm and after he had eaten. There is no way 2 pints would have you over the limit 5-6 hours later with food taken. He needs to be questioned on this.

    1. ReproBertie

      Why does he need to be questioned on it? It was 4 years ago and he paid the penalty as per the law of the land. Do you remember the exact details of what you had to eat and drink and at what time on the day of the 2016 All Ireland Football Final?

      1. Charger Salmons

        Never thought I’d be in a trench beside you.
        But the pitchfork mob are agitated.
        They need their next sacrificial lamb.
        Who cares that the most important fact here was that a TD was treated the same as anybody else ?

        1. ReproBertie

          I think that’s why there’s all this “questions to be asked” and “drip fed the real details” nonsense. They just can’t believe that a TD was treated the same as everyone else. There has to be more, right? Surely they downplayed it to get him the minimum penalty at least.

          It’s as if they are disappointed that he didn’t pull a stroke to get away with it.

        2. Joe F

          You’re quite a good troll old boy, others here seem to be in agreement. It’s OK old boy if you decide not to reply to my simple to follow question. I was bullied in secondary school, many years ago, at that time I wasn’t strong enough to stand up to them. If it was that time again now, I would act differently. You’re not a bully old boy, just a bit of a clown, who, when he can’t answer a simple question, goes missing. Anyway, I’ll keep trying, looking for an answer old boy.

  7. dav

    it must have been some one in ff that leaked this, the blushirts would have used it long before now

    1. Optimus Grime

      You know I was thinking that too when it came out. If there is that level of discord within the party then this government does not stand a chance

    2. bisted

      …he mustn’t have bunged the court reporter from the local paper enough…what a week though for ministers…add a parish pump polisher an apologist for paedophiles…all FFers or FFer genepool…

      1. ReproBertie

        It didn’t go to court bisted. Paying the fixed penalty means the rest of the sentence is applied automatically.

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