Laois man ‘took a chance to drive’ after a night out
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A MAN ‘who took a chance to drive’ after a night out appeared before last week’s sitting of Portlaoise District Court summoned with drink-driving.
Garda Sgt Kirby told the court that while gardaí were on patrol on Conoboro Road, Rathdowney at 1.33am on 5 October, they saw a car come from a car park and veer to the wrong side of the road.
Speaking with the driver, James Maher (27), Ballycoolid, Rathdowney they formed the opinion that he was under the influence and arrested him on suspicion of drink-driving. Results of a test returned a reading of 297mgs of alcohol per 100mls of urine.
Defending solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said that her client accepts that it is a very high reading.
She said: “He had been at a party earlier that night and drank too much. He lives in a rural area. He decided to take a chance and drive home. He appreciates he is facing a three-year disqualification and is asking the court to postpone that until 1 December.” Judge Andrew Cody was informed that Mr Maher has no previous convictions.
He asked Mr Maher what he worked at, to which he replied: “Dunne Stores in Rathdowney.” “It is within cycling distance from Ballycoolid” asked Judge Cody, to which Mr Maher’s father, who was in the body of the court, replied: “It’s about a mile and a half from town.” Judge Cody convicted the defendant of the offence, fined him €250, disqualified him from driving for three years, with the disqualification to take effect from 1 December.
