Tractor driver was over limit at 11 a.m.

June 1994

Judge Donnchadh O Buachalla adjourned judgement in a drink driving case at Wexford District Court last week until details of revised penalties are announced by the Department of the Environment.

The case against [NAME WITHELD], Foulk- smills, was heard in full last Wednesday, and despite a request by the defendant to have penalty imposed on that date, the Judge decided to adjourn.

The defendant pleaded guilty to drink driving and a number of other offences including dangerous driving and driving without insurance, following a road accident on December 10 last.

A charge of unauthorised taking of a vehicle was struck out, as there was a doubt over whether he had permission to use the vehicle on the road or not.

The court was told that the defendant was driving a tractor at about 11 a.m. on the date in question, when he collided with a car. He was arrested and brought to New Ross Garda Station. He gave a sample of blood which analysis showed had a concentration of 235mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

The defendant admitted that he had already drunk two large bottles of beer and two measures of Powers whiskey on that date, despite the early hour.

He said he then decided to drive to a nearby shop in the tractor, which belonged to a local farmer. He had been working for the farmer at the time, taking care of cattle and sheep while the farmer was on holidays.

Judge O Buachalla said he considered this a serious case but he wanted to hear further details of new penalty scales for drink driving before finalising the case.