Portlaoise Court: Empty beer cans fell out of drink-drivers car
Portloaise Courthouse
WHEN gardaí prevented a vehicle from leaving the car park at Portlaoise hospital, after receiving a report of an intoxicated woman attempting to drive, “a large number of beer cans” fell from the car.
That was part of the evidence heard at Portlaoise District Court against an Offaly woman, who was not present when her case was called.
Joy Gallagher, 1 An Caladh, Shannon Harbour, Birr had been summonsed with drink-driving at Portlaoise hospital on 27 September 2023.
Judge Andrew Cody was informed that a bench warrant had been issued for the defendant, whom gardaí believe is in England.
The judge said that a date for a full hearing of the case was set the last time it came before the court and asked for it to proceed in the defendant’s absence.
Garda Foley said that at 2am she responded to a report of a drunk woman who was attempting to leave the hospital car park in a car.
She said: “When I got there, I saw her get in and drive the car, but it cut out. I went to get her out and as she was doing so a large number of beer cans fell from it. Her speech was very slurred, she was very aggressive and a very strong smell of alcohol was coming from her. I formed the opinion that she was incapable of driving and arrested her. She told me to f**k off and was very aggressive. I put handcuffs on her and put her in the rear of the garda car and took her to Portlaoise Garda Station.”
Garda Foley said that a urinalysis test on the 32-year-old defendant retuned a reading of 225mg/100ml alcohol.
Judge Andrew Cody asked what efforts gardaí had made in contacting Ms Gallagher, to which Garda Foley replied that notices had been posted to her address as well as numerous attempts to contact her by phone.
The court also heard that Ms Gallagher had one previous conviction for no driving insurance in 2023.
Judge Cody convicted the defendant of the offence, fined her €2,500 and disqualified her from driving for two years.
