Strategic Lawyers boss Justin Ireland sentenced for drink driving charge
A Townsville lawyer’s boozy afternoon on the water has landed him on the wrong side of the law, after the boat he was operating crashed and caught the attention of police.
A TOWNSVILLE lawyer’s boozy afternoon on the water has landed him on the wrong side of the law, after the boat he was operating crashed and caught the attention of police.
Justin Colin Ireland, the principal lawyer at Strategic Lawyers, appeared in Townsville Magistrates Court on a charge of driving over the general alcohol limit.
While the court heard Ireland had pleaded guilty, his Barrister, Alex Raeburn requested that Magistrate Viviana Keegan transfer the matter to Caboolture for a July 15 court date.
Mr Raeburn said he made the request on the basis that Ireland would be in Brisbane “visiting family” then, and that the instructing solicitor’s office was based in Caboolture.
But Ms Keegan vigorously questioned the reason for the request.
Strategic Lawyers principal lawyer Justin Ireland. Picture: Zak Simmonds
“Well, we’re in the Covid era – we regularly allow lawyers to appear by phone or video, and it strikes me as curious that a firm in Brisbane is then to (pay) the cost of travelling to Caboolture for a plea of guilty,” Ms Keegan said.
“There is no real reason at all, so what is the reason?”
Mr Raeburn argued that the matter would be finalised in Caboolture by his instructing solicitor, but Ms Keegan asked why a barrister could not be “capable” of doing a “simple drink driving charge”, and denied the transfer.
“I don’t understand Mr Raeburn what this is about,” she said.
“Anyone else that has a drink driving charge has to come to the court where they live and face the charge.”
Strategic Lawyers principal lawyer Justin Ireland. Picture: Zak Simmonds
The court heard that on June 4 at 4.30pm, police were called to a Railway Estate boat ramp on reports of a boat crash with a possible drink driver.
When officers arrived they saw Ireland mooring his boat, and told them he had hit rocks near the boat ramp.
When asked if he had been drinking he said he had a “couple of beers,” but thought he was under the legal limit to operate a vessel.
Ireland recorded a blood-alcohol content of .099.
Mr Raeburn submitted a fine and three month disqualification of Ireland’s marine licence, with the opportunity to pay the fine within one month.
Ireland was fined $500, and his marine licence disqualified for three months.
No conviction was recorded.
