Judge finds man guilty of drink driving
Judge Marie Keane said she was satisfied the case had been proven.
A man who drove while intoxicated has received a three-year ban.
Brian McGreal, aged 33, of 11 Chestnut Grove, Mill Street, Westport denied the charge when he appeared before Castlebar District Court.
Gda Padraic Walsh told the court he had been carrying out a mandatory checkpoint at Moyhastin, Westport on August 14, 2022. The defendant, who had been travelling with another man in a Volkswagen Transit van, failed a roadside breath test, and was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. The other man was arrested for a public order offence and brought to Westport Garda Station.
Gda Walsh said he conveyed McGreal to Castlebar Garda Station instead of Westport. A subsequent breath specimen gave a reading of 82 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 22mg.
Solicitor Tom Walsh argued that his client should have been brought to Westport Garda Station and the hour between the arrest and station arrival was too long. Gda Walsh rejected the claim and said he would have had to get a doctor or nurse to take a blood/urine sample at Westport Garda Station because there was no intoxilyser machine there.
“There have been occasions in Mayo where I have been unable to get a nurse or a doctor,” he added.
Imposing a three-year driving ban and a fine of €350, Judge Marie Keane said she was satisfied the case was proven.
