Crashedhis brother’svan

A 29-year-old man who crashed his brother’s van in a Dundalk housing estate has admitted drink driving and no insurance charges.

Brian Conneely (29), Curraghtown, Navan, Co. Meath was a disqualified driver at the time of the incident in Maple Close, Avenue Road on 2 July last; prompting the judge to remark he had no regard for the law.

The court heard he was in his brother’s house and had a lot of alcohol taken. A row started between two other people present and the defendant felt he had to get out of there.

He took the keys of the van and ended up colliding with a parked car. There were no injuries.

Sgt Fintan McGroder presented evidence that gardaí were alerted at 8.32pm. They found two vehicles with frontal damage, and spoke to Conneely who was ‘clearly intoxicated’. He was arrested and subsequently gave a breath specimen which showed a reading of 84mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

The defendant admitted he was disqualified from driving at the time.

There are 12 previous convictions. Solicitor Dermot Monahan said his client was very co-opertaive. He was laid off work but got another job on a trial basis refurbishing alloy wheels.

He was in a relationship with a lady and had a role in her two children’s lives, and had a daughter of his own for whom he paid maintenance.

Mr Monahan added there was a lot going on in Conneely’s life. He lost a brother in a motorcycle accident in 2016.

Judge McKiernan said he had no regard for road traffic law.

‘What about other road users?’

The defendant said he was sorry. He didn’t know what he was doing.

‘What if you killed someone on the road?’, the judge continued before referencing previous convictions for dangerous driving, no insurance and drink driving.

For having no insurance on this occasion a four-month sentence was imposed, suspended for 12 months. The defendant was also disqualified from driving for four years. Other charges were taken into consideration.