Wednesday March 02 2011
THE wife of a Fine Gael TD tipped to become the next justice minister has been convicted of drink driving.
Carol Shatter, the wife of Alan Shatter who is currently playing a key role in negotiations to form the next Government, has been fined €300 and disqualified from driving for a year.
Earlier this week Mrs Shatter, a 57-year-old mother-of-two, was convicted at Dublin District Court.
Mrs Shatter, of 57 Delbrook Manor, Ballinteer, was convicted after she was caught drink driving on June 8 last at Brehon Field Road in Ballinteer.
It is understood that Mrs Shatter was just over the legal limit when apprehended by gardai.
The disqualification of the politician's wife comes at a sensitive time for Mr Shatter who is negotiating with Labour about entering into a coalition along with fellow TDs Phil Hogan and Michael Noonan.
Mr Shatter was one of several TDs who refused to join a heave last year against party leader Enda Kenny and is expected to be rewarded for his loyalty during the short-lived leadership crisis.
A high-profile family law solicitor and the party's former justice spokesman, Mr Shatter is widely expected to be rewarded with the post of Justice Minister. Alternatively, he could be appointed as Attorney General, a move that would create an extra seat at the Cabinet table.
A spokesman for Mr Shatter said last night: "Alan Shatter can confirm that his wife Carol was fined €300 yesterday in the District Court and received an automatic one-year driving ban for a drink-driving offence.
"Carol deeply regrets the incident and accepts the court's decision without reservation."
Carol Shatter, the wife of Alan Shatter who is currently playing a key role in negotiations to form the next Government, has been fined €300 and disqualified from driving for a year.
Earlier this week Mrs Shatter, a 57-year-old mother-of-two, was convicted at Dublin District Court.
Mrs Shatter, of 57 Delbrook Manor, Ballinteer, was convicted after she was caught drink driving on June 8 last at Brehon Field Road in Ballinteer.
It is understood that Mrs Shatter was just over the legal limit when apprehended by gardai.
The disqualification of the politician's wife comes at a sensitive time for Mr Shatter who is negotiating with Labour about entering into a coalition along with fellow TDs Phil Hogan and Michael Noonan.
Mr Shatter was one of several TDs who refused to join a heave last year against party leader Enda Kenny and is expected to be rewarded for his loyalty during the short-lived leadership crisis.
A high-profile family law solicitor and the party's former justice spokesman, Mr Shatter is widely expected to be rewarded with the post of Justice Minister. Alternatively, he could be appointed as Attorney General, a move that would create an extra seat at the Cabinet table.
A spokesman for Mr Shatter said last night: "Alan Shatter can confirm that his wife Carol was fined €300 yesterday in the District Court and received an automatic one-year driving ban for a drink-driving offence.
"Carol deeply regrets the incident and accepts the court's decision without reservation."
- Dearbhail McDonald and Fiona Ellis
Irish Independent
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