Crashedintoeir pole

Gardai found a drink driver in Drogheda hospital after he crashed into an eir pole and a fence at a house, the district court heard last week.

John McAlarney, (61), 1 Seaview, Annagassan, admitted being behind the wheel of an Opel Astra that crashed into the pole and fence at Farm Road, Annagassan at around 2am on December 1. The fence owner was woken by a loud bang and saw McAlarney, whom he knew, getting out of the vehicle and he contacted Gardai.

Officers went to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital where the defendant admitted driving and crashing into the pole and fence and a blood sample showed he was over the limit. He had no licence or insurance.

Judge Brennan was told that €1500 worth of damage was caused to the eir pole but this was not being pursued and the damage to the fence amounted to €250.

The court McAlarney has a previous conviction for drink driving dating back to 2007. Barrister Irene Sands said her client ‘ has no difficulty in addressing the €250 compensation, but he needs time to do this’ and ‘notwithstanding he wasn’t at the scene when Gardai arrived, he co-operated with them’.

Judge Brennan imposed fines totalling €400 for drink driving and no insurance and banned him from driving for three years. In addition, the judge fined McAlarney €50 for damaging the fence and ordered that he pay the compensation.