JPs wish drink driver ‘good luck’ in booze battle
TIMOTHY GALAGHER AND AMANDA CROOK
ADRUNK driver who mowed down and seriously injured a pedestrian with her VW Beetle has walked free after a court ruled she should be wished ‘good luck in her fight against the demon’ drink.
Tara Carbery, from Macclesfield, a writer who calls herself ‘ Lady Tara’, was more than three times the alcohol limit during the early afternoon when she crashed her car, Stockport Magistrates Court heard.
The Beetle mounted a pavement and hit a telegraph pole before ploughing into a parked car propelling it against a woman, who was celebrating her birthday.
The victim was dragged under the wheels and scraped the skin of her arm and half her body against the pavement.
Tyre marks from the vehicle were left embedded on her arm.
Police called to the scene in Macclesfield found a hostile crowd confronting Carberry after noticing she was barely able to stand and slurring her speech.
She became argumen
tative with an officer and initially refused to take a breath test before blowing 106 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The alcohol limit is 35mg.
Carberry, 46, of Canton Street, who has written articles and poetry for online publications, admitted drink driving.
But was given 12 weeks suspended for two years after she insisted she had not drunk alcohol since the incident and was getting help for alcohol problems.
She was also banned from driving for three years.
The court heard she had a previous drink driving conviction from 2004.
The incident occurred on April 28, while the victim was opening the boot of her sister’s car to pick up presents she had received for her birthday.
Prosecutor, Tina Cunnane said: “She saw a VW Beetle coming towards her direction, the vehicle was driving above the speed limit and swerving all over the road.
“She said the car hit the pole and her car with force and she feared for her life.
“She sat up and looked at the car and began to shout for help.
“The officer approached the defendant, turned the engine off and took the keys out of the ignition.
“She was slurring her words, her eyes were glazed, and she smelled strongly of intoxicants.
“Numerous members of the public were becoming hostile to her.
“She could hardly stand as she had consumed alcohol one hour earlier.”
Carberry was also ordered to complete 140 hours unpaid work and will have to pay £200 in costs and surcharges.
Defence lawyer John Gallagher said in mitigation: “She hasn’t been drinking at all since this incident she has taken a proactive stance.
“She frankly is appalled that she would have driven in that state.
“She is appalled to find herself in this position and has put somebody else through this.”
Sentencing JPs told Carberry: “It seems plainly obvious that you are continually ruining your life through alcohol.
“You had it all, you had a good job and you have thrown it all away because of alcohol.
“You need help and that is the only reason we haven’t sent you to prison. You have shown remorse.
“You’re a very lucky lady today you really need to get a grip but we’re sure everybody’s already told you that.
“Good luck with your fight against the demon.”