Mayo woman admits to drink driving
A COUNTY Mayo woman who had a very high alcohol reading in a drunk driving case had her ban put back for six months. Mary Josephine Conway, Attycunnane, Belmullet, pleaded guilty at Sligo District Court to charges of drunk driving and having no insurance at Carrowhubbock, Enniscrone, on September 16, 2018.
The court heard that the defendant had an alcohol breath reading of 103 mcgs per mls of breath, which is five times over the legal limit.
She had no previous convictions.
Defence solicitor Mark Mullaney said the defendant worked for the HSE. He said it was a difficult case. He said the defendant lived in Ballina.
The defendant had been in Enniscrone and had “taken too much drink”. Judge Kevin Kilrane fined the defendant €200 and banned her from driving for three years for drunk driving.
He fined the defendant €200 and gave her a concurrent sentence of two years on the no-insurance charge.
Two related charges of dangerous driving and no licence were struck out. Mr Mullaney asked for the driving ban to be put back to November as the defendant lived in Ballina and worked in Castlebar and needed some time. The judge said he needed to hear from the defendant in view of the high reading.
The defendant told the court she had “not touched a drop” since that day, and said that this situation would continue.
She added that she did not have a difficulty with alcohol.
The judge said it was a “terrible reading of 103 mcgs and she is very lucky”.
Mr Mullaney said that he thought the difficulties were behind her.
The judge granted the defendant the postponement so long as she stayed off alcohol.
The solicitor said it was an “inadvertence” on her part and her health was part of the background and it was not deliberate.