Four-year ban as court rejects claim

A MOTORIST found in the early hours of the morning beside his crashed car in a highly intoxicated state told the District Court that he had not been driving the vehicle on the night in question.

Phillip Doyle (47) was discovered on Belvedere Road shortly after 6.30 a.m. on the morning of April 1, 2016, just a short walk from his home at 7 Wygram Place.

Garda David Fitzgerald prosecuted Doyle for failure to provide a sample after arresting him beside his damaged 2003 registered Volkswagen Bora on suspicion that a drink drive offence had been committed.

The court was told that the key was in the ignition and that Doyle got into the car and attempted to turn the key before the garda intervened. The Bora was later towed away and written off.

At the station, he refused to opt to give either blood or urine after Doctor Stephen Bowe was called to take a sample.

The garda’s evidence was that the defendant did not tell him at the time that he had not been at the wheel when the accident occurred.

In court, however, Doyle explained that he had been at a party that night in a house at Clonard.

He said that a Polish woman drove him home in the Volkswagen because he was over the limit, he said.

His evidence was that the Bora was damaged when she swerved to avoid a concrete block on the road.

The woman was not named in court and the defendant told the court that she now works in Dublin.

The accused said he did not provide the sample because he was not driving.

Judge John Cheatle ruled that this was not a defence to the charge, imposing a fine of €200 with the mandatory four years off the road.