Drunk driver with a damaged bumper and tyre on the rim gets eight months and a ban
A DRUNKEN driver who was driving a car with a damaged bumper and a flat front tyre was jailed for eight months by Blanchardstown District Court.
Judge Miriam Walsh also banned Charlene Casey from driving for four years.
Blanchardstown District Court
Presenting Sergeant Maria Callaghan told Judge Walsh that at 11.35pm on June 3, 2018, Gardai were on patrol in Woodford Walk in Clondalkin.
She said they observed Casey driving a Toyota Avensis. The front bumper of the Avensis was damaged and front left wheel was flat to such extent that the tyre was on the rim.
Sgt. Callaghan said the gardai stopped Casey and “got a strong smell of alcohol from her and observed that her eyes were bloodshot”. Casey was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and taken to Ballyfermot Garda Station where she provided a breath sample.
The breath sample had a alcohol/breath level of 51mg/100ml.
Sgt. Callaghan said Casey also had no insurance.
Casey, aged 24, with an address at April Rise, Old Cork Road, Limerick, pleaded guilty to drunken driving and no insurance at Woodford Walk in Clondalkin on the above date.
Sgt Callaghan said Walsh has 38 previous convictions, of which four were for no insurance and seven were for failing to appear in court.
At Limerick District Court on June 20, 2018, Casey had received a three-month suspended sentence for three counts of theft and three counts of failing to appear in court.
Casey’s Solicitor, Kelly Breen, told Judge Walsh that on the date in question, Casey had been in Dublin with her partner. Ms Breen said Casey and her partner had been drinking and he wanted to drive back to Limerick but she had chosen to drive instead. She said Casey hadn’t planned to drive and had been “somewhat distressed”.
Ms Breen added: “She (Casey) is not a lady who has not been before the court before.
She said Casey has two children aged four and 8.
Judge Walsh sentenced Casey to four months jail with a four-year driving ban for the drunken driving and to four months consecutive on the first sentence with a four-year ban for having no insurance.
