Gilson brother appeals drug-driving conviction
A brother of model and TV presenter Glenda Gilson has launched an appeal of his conviction in connection with a dangerous drug-driving incident.
Last June, Dublin District Court had imposed a three-month suspended sentence and a €3,000 fine on Damien Gilson (aged 35) who was found guilty of driving under the influence of cannabis, on September 8, 2010.
Mr Gilson, who has an address at Raglan Road, in Dublin, had also been given a six-year road ban.
The district court had heard that Gilson had been tailgating and dangerously overtaking other cars in Dublin before gardaí stopped him and found a half-smoked cannabis joint in the '08-reg Landrover Discovery he had been driving, along with more cannabis stashed in one of his socks.
The incident followed the collapse of his motor sales business.
However, Gilson has brought an appeal of his convictions which was listed before Judge Terence O'Sullivan at the Circuit Court in Dublin today.
Defence solicitor Michael Hanahoe told Judge O'Sullivan that Mr Gilson was not present and that these proceedings involved a full appeal, which means he is attempting to clear his name and to have the district court's verdict overturned.
The appeal court judge heard that there will be several garda witnesses as well as one civilian witness called to give evidence for the prosecution.
Judge O'Neill adjourned the hearing of the appeal for five weeks.
Mr Gilson had been originally convicted last year by Judge Ann Watkin at Dublin District Court of driving under the influence of cannabis at Diswellstown Road, in north Dublin, and dangerous driving at the Phoenix Park, on September 8, 2010.
Gilson, whose car sales business has gone into liquidation, had also been found guilty of three further charges for unlawful possession of cannabis on the same date.
He had contested all of the charges at his district court hearing last year.
