Paul Carr convicted of drug-related driving offence


Sunday January 27,2013 : IRISH POKER MAVERICK IN COURT AGAIN
 
Paul Carr convicted of drug-related driving offence
 
Our readers will recall the trials and tribulations of Irish poker pro Paul Carr, who last hit the headlines in a court fight over whether monies seized by police in a drug bust last year were only at the premises for safe-keeping, belonged to him and therefore should not be forfeited to the state
 
This week he was in more drug-related hot water, appearing before Judge Eugene O'Kelly in the Limerick District Court on charges of driving under the influence of cocaine.
 
Police gave evidence that they arrested and urine-tested Carr (33) after observing him driving his BMW at speed in a busy city centre back in September 2011.
 
Carr pleaded not guilty but was convicted, escaping with a relatively light sentence of a Euro 2,500 fine and a four year driving ban.
 
The Irish poker ace is probably best remembered for his Euro 312,600 second placing in the No Limit Texas Hold'em Paddy Power Irish Open tournament in 2010.
 
Defence solicitor Darach McCarthy said his client was "a professional poker player", and a driving ban would affect his profession.
 
However, Judge O'Kelly found Carr, who has 23 previous convictions, guilty and imposed the sentence.