Drink driver had can of beer in car

A man who had a can of heineken in his car when he was stopped by gardaí after he was seen reversing on a busy road has been has been given a four month sentence at Drogheda District Court.

The court heard the defendant has 87 previous convictions.

On the date in question, gardaí witnessed Abukar Farah at the Haymarket reverse back onto the road. The vehicle he was driving also had a flat tyre.

They spoke to the driver and smelt alcohol on his breath and he had an open can of heinekin with him in the car.

Farah, with an address at Apartment 6, Charlemont Terrace, Cork, was also accused of driving without a driving licence, having no insurance and giving a false name/address/ date of birth.

Barrister Ronan O’Carroll said the defendant is a 29-year-old man who fled his native Somalia ten years ago. He was highly intoxicated at the time, Mr O’Carroll said, adding alcohol is Farah’s downfall and he is currently attending courses on a daily basis to try and address this.

He said Farah is currently serving a sentence for criminal damage for which he received an 11 month sentence.

‘Although he is married he does face the very real prospect of being deported back to Somalia on his release,’ said Mr O’Carroll. ‘He has been without alcohol for some time now and he has no intention of ever drinking again. I would ask the court to be as lenient as it can,’ he said, addiing Farah is due for release in June this year.

Judge Eirinn McKiernan imposed a four month sentence for drink driving and disqualified Farah from driving for six years.

She took all the other matters into consideration.