Mother ‘was drinking in car’, court hears

A MOTHER who allegedly crashed her car while drinking a can of alcohol as her two-year-old child sat in the back of the car is to face a Circuit Court hearing.

Judge David McHugh declined jurisdiction yesterday in Blanchardstown District Court in the woman’s case.

The 34-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was charged with being drunk in charge of a vehicle in Clondalkin, Dublin, on June 24 last.

She was also charged with being drunk in charge of a child contrary to the Summary Jurisdiction Act.

Garda Ciaran Murray told Judge McHugh that it will be alleged that at 3.30pm he observed a Seat Leon that was crashed on the Nangor Road.

He told the court the female driver was slumped over the wheel and was holding an open can of alcohol.

The garda added that it will be alleged that a two-year-old child was sitting in the back of the car.

He said that the woman was taken to Clondalkin Garda Station where it will be alleged that she supplied a blood sample to a doctor which read 219mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood.

Judge McHugh asked what was the state of the child, and Garda Murray said the toddler was highly distressed.

Judge McHugh declined jurisdiction and remanded the woman on continuing bail to a date in October for service of her book of evidence.