Case adjourned so doctor can give evidence

A DRUNK driving case was adjourned at Bray District Court on Thursday so that the doctor who took the blood sample can give evidence.

Anthony Egan, Ballybawn House, Old Longmill Road, Kilmacanogue, was before the court due to matters arising from April 10, 2017, at Sidminton Road, Bray.

Garda Peter Browne was on patrol that night and, while giving evidence to the court, described seeing a vehicle driving in front of him which was going onto the other side of the road. The car then turned left and was on the wrong side of the road.

Garda Browne pulled over the vehicle, which was being driven by Anthony Egan, who, the garda said, had a smell of alcohol from his breath and was slurring his speech.

‘He could barely put a sentence together,’ said Garda Browne.

The defendant was arrested and he ended up providing an incomplete specimen on the intoxilyzer. Mr Egan then agreed to provide a blood sample and a designated doctor was called in. The blood sample was taken at 2.31 a.m.

However, counsel for the defence took issue with Garda Browne’s evidence and the sequence of events that took place once the doctor arrived. The defence argued that evidence in the court indicated that the doctor had signed the form prior to carrying out other functions when the form should be the last thing signed.

Judge David Kennedy said he would adjourn proceedings until September 20 so the doctor could be invited to court to provide evidence.

‘It may just have been a technical breach in that Garda Browne maybe put one sentence ahead of the other. In the interest of justice I will invite the doctor to give evidence,’ said Judged Kennedy.