Motorist failed to give breath sample

A MAN who failed to give a breath sample after being arrested on suspicion of drink driving, was fined a total of €900 and disqualified from driving for six years by Judge Aeneas McCarthy at Wexford District Civil Court.

Nicholas Ryan, 106 Madeira Wood, Enniscorthy pleaded guilty to charges of failing to provide a sample and driving without insurance and a licence at Clonard Avenue, Wexford on May 3, 2014.

Sergeant Victor Isdell said a garda saw the defendant driving erratically. He was arrested and brought to Wexford Garda Station where he failed to give samples of his breath. He was asked to produce his driving licence and insurance certificate but failed to do so.

Sergeant Isdell said the defendant had a previous conviction from February 2012 when he was disqualified from driving for failing to provide a blood or urine sample.

Ed King, solicitor said his 38-year-old client worked as a bricklayer. He said there was an underlying issue which he did not wish to go into in open court. The accused accepted he should not have driven and realised he was ‘in jeopardy’ due to the previous conviction.

Judge McCarthy fined the defendant €500 for failing to provide a breath sample and disqualified him for six years. For driving without insurance he fined him €500 and disqualified him for two years and he imposed a fine of €200 on the charge of driving without a licence. He allowed him 16 weeks to pay the fines.