Simon Collins, son of Rock legend Phil Collins pictured arriving at Killarney Court
Last Updated on 10 July 2026 by Watchdog Witness
Introduction – A Name That Opens Doors
Simon Collins is a musician. He has released albums, toured, and carved out a career in his own right. But there is one reason you know his name: his father is Phil Collins, one of the most famous musicians in history.
For years, Simon lived in the shadow of his father’s fame. But in recent years, he has made headlines for a different reason – not for his music, but for his driving.
In January 2020, Collins was stopped on a mountain road near Killarney at 3.20am. The windows of his car were fogged up, and a garda noticed a “strong smell” coming from the interior. When Collins handed over his PPS card for identification, there was white powder on it. He identified the powder as cocaine . He later tested positive for drug driving.
That was his first offence. It was not his last.
In 2024, Collins was convicted again – this time for drink driving. He admitted to gardaí that he had consumed “four vodkas” . His eyes were glazed, his speech was slurred, and he was driving erratically .
His two driving offences earned him a six-year driving ban. In his first case, a charge of cocaine possession was struck out after he made a €300 donation to an addiction charity .
This is the story of how a celebrity’s son repeatedly flouted Irish law – and the leniency he received.
Who Is Simon Collins?
Simon Philip Nando Collins was born on 14 September 1976 in Hammersmith, London . He is the eldest son of Phil Collins and his first wife, Andrea Bertorelli. He is the half-brother of actress Lily Collins (star of Netflix’s Emily in Paris) and actress Joely Collins .
He is a musician in his own right – a drummer, singer, and songwriter who has released albums with his band Sound of Contact . Reviewers have compared his vocals to those of his father .
In recent years, he has been based in Ireland, living at Greenane Cottage, Templenoe, Blackwater, Co Kerry .
Part 1: The Drug Driving Conviction (2021)
On 18 January 2020, at 3.20am, Garda James McCarthy was responding to an unrelated incident on a mountain road at Derrycunnihy, near Killarney . As gardaí arrived, they spotted a vehicle emerging from a private roadway onto the public road .
Garda McCarthy signalled for the vehicle to stop. The driver was Simon Collins. The windows of the car were noticeably fogged up .
“I immediately got a smell of something that I believed to be cannabis coming from the vehicle.” – Garda James McCarthy
Collins did not have his driving licence but offered his PPS card. The garda noticed white powder on the card . When questioned, Collins identified the powder as cocaine and handed over a container he said contained cocaine for his own use .
Garda McCarthy formed the opinion that Collins was under the influence of an intoxicant, noting his speech was delayed and his eyes were dilated . Collins was arrested and taken to Killarney Garda Station. A subsequent test revealed 57.2 nanogrammes of cocaine metabolites per ml – well over the legal driving limit .
Collins contested the charge, arguing that the garda had not properly formed his opinion . Judge David Waters dismissed this argument.
“The garda informed him of his opinion, the reasons for his opinion and then arrested him. How could he not know what he was being arrested for.” – Judge David Waters
Collins was convicted of drug driving, disqualified from driving for 12 months, and fined €400 .
Part 2: The Cocaine Possession – A €300 Get-Out
On the same night as the drug driving offence, Collins was also charged with possession of cocaine, with a street value of just €10 .
Collins initially pleaded not guilty to the possession charge , but later changed his plea to guilty . His solicitor, John Cashell, told the court that the cocaine was for his client’s personal use and that it was “well publicised” that Collins had suffered from a drug addiction .
He also noted that Collins was an established musician and had to travel a lot, and pleaded for leniency .
Judge David Waters agreed to give Collins a chance – providing he paid €300 to the Grove addiction treatment centre . The charge was struck out .
“I am firmly focused on my career in music and am currently working on a new album with my new band.” – Simon Collins, in a statement after the hearing
Collins had been given an opportunity. He did not learn from it.
Part 3: The Drink Driving Conviction (2024) – A Second Offence
On 12 June 2024, Simon Collins was back in court – this time in Kenmare District Court . He was convicted of driving with excess alcohol .
This was his second driving-related offence .
The incident occurred in October 2021, at Gortamullen, Kenmare . Gardaí had received a call about a car driving erratically. Garda Liam Hegarty observed the car and noted it was not keeping within its lane .
Collins was stopped. Garda Hegarty noted that his eyes were glazed and his speech was slurred . When asked if he had consumed alcohol, Collins admitted he had drunk four vodkas .
He was arrested and taken to Killarney Garda Station. A breath sample could not be obtained due to a machine malfunction, but a urine sample later tested positive for alcohol .
Collins pleaded not guilty . Judge David Waters convicted him.
The sentence was severe: a six-year driving ban and a €500 fine .
“As this is his second driving related offence, he received a six year ban.” – Sunday World, June 2024
His first offence had earned him a 12‑month ban. His second offence earned him six years.
Part 4: The Pattern of Leniency
Simon Collins has been treated with significant leniency by the Irish courts.
| Offence | Date | Outcome | Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Driving | January 2020 | Convicted | 12‑month ban, €400 fine |
| Cocaine Possession | January 2020 | Struck out | €300 donation to charity |
| Drink Driving | October 2021 | Convicted | 6‑year ban, €500 fine |
The cocaine possession charge was struck out entirely – not because Collins was innocent, but because he was given the opportunity to make a charitable donation . This is a common practice in Irish courts for minor offences, but it raises the question: would a non‑famous person have received the same treatment?
The answer is probably yes – but the leniency is still notable. The €300 donation allowed Collins to avoid a criminal conviction for drug possession . His solicitor told the court Collins “no longer uses drugs” and is concentrating on his music career .
Yet, just months later, he was caught drink driving – having consumed four vodkas before getting behind the wheel .
Part 5: The Celebrity Factor
Simon Collins’s fame is inherited, not earned. His father is Phil Collins – one of the best‑selling musicians of all time. His half‑sister is Lily Collins, a Hollywood actress.
His name has undoubtedly opened doors. It may also have influenced the way his cases were handled.
The Sunday World, the Irish Examiner, the Irish Independent, and CrimeWorld all covered his convictions . But the coverage was largely regional. The national media barely touched the story.
Watchdog Witness is exposing what the mainstream press ignored: a celebrity’s son who repeatedly flouted Irish law, received leniency, and still did not learn.
Why This Case Matters for Watchdog Witness Readers
This case raises several important questions:
1. The “Get‑Out‑of‑Jail‑Free” Card
Collins had a cocaine possession charge struck out after a €300 donation . Would a non‑famous person have been offered the same deal?
2. The Repeat Offender
Collins was given a second chance – and then got worse. His first offence was drug driving (12‑month ban). His second was drink driving (six‑year ban). He learned nothing from his first conviction.
3. The “Four Vodkas” Admission
Collins admitted to gardaí he had consumed four vodkas before driving . His speech was slurred, his eyes were glazed, and he was driving erratically. He was a danger to himself and others.
4. The Low Media Coverage
The story was covered by regional outlets, but the national media largely ignored it. Watchdog Witness is giving it the attention it deserves.
The question for readers is simple: If a celebrity’s son can be caught with cocaine, have the charge struck out, and then be caught drink driving – what message does that send to the public?
Timeline of Events
Sources – Click to Verify
| Source | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday World (2021) | Drug driving conviction, 12‑month ban, cocaine on PPS card | View |
| Sunday World (2024) | Second conviction, 6‑year ban, “four vodkas” admission | View |
| Irish Examiner (2021) | Possession charge struck out, €300 donation | View |
| Irish Independent | Second conviction, 6‑year ban | View |
| Daily Mail | Possession charge, not guilty plea | View |
| Wikipedia | Personal background, music career | View |
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available court records and news reporting. Simon Collins has been convicted of the offences described. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article does not constitute legal advice and is provided for informational and journalistic purposes only. Watchdog Witness does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of third-party sources cited. This article may be updated as further information becomes available.
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