JUDGE REJECTS ARGUMENT IN CASE OF DRINK-DRIVER
A HOTLY contested drink-drive case heard at Wexford District Court resulted in conviction for Eoghan French (26) of Brownstown, Cleariestown.
The court was told how a crashed Hyundai jeep was discovered on the morning of January 8 in 2016 at Scar in Duncormick by Garda Edward Widger. He went to Scar in response to a call received at around 7.15 a.m.
He left the debris-strewn area briefly but returned to find jeep owner Ger French from Baldwinstown had arrived.
The garda was informed that the driver of the damaged vehicle was Ger French’s son Eoghan, who was now sitting in a van nearby.
The younger French was interviewed under caution, stating that he had been in town the previous night.
He stayed with a friend but set off for home around 6 a.m. to collect his gear for work intending to drive on to Wellingtonbridge. Speaking to him, the garda felt that the defendant was intoxicated, so he was arrested and brought to the barracks in Wexford.
A urine sample was provided at 9.20 a.m. which showed on analysis that French was over the legal limit for alcohol.
At the time, the accused reckoned that the crash occurred at 6.30 or maybe as late as 6.45 a.m.
In court his solicitor Tim Cummings suggested there was no adequate proof that his client had given the sample within three hours of driving as required by law.
However, Judge John Cheatle was satisfied with the case made by the prosecution, imposing the conviction along with the mandatory three-year driving ban and a fine of €250.
Eoghan French was described in court as single and a metal fabricator, with plans to travel to Canada.