Drovewrongway onmotorway

A 47-year-old man who drove in the wrong direction on the motorway has appeared in court on dangerous driving and a refusal to provide a breath specimen charge.

Peter Lawless, Kilcroney, Readypenny, Dundalk, pleaded guilty to the charges which arose out of an incident in the early hours of 17 October, 2017.

Evidence was given that at 2.55am gardaí were alerted to a vehicle travelling south on the M1 in the northbound lane at Braganstown, Castlebellingham.

When the guards stopped the driver he was swaying, his speech was slurred and there was a smell of drink from him.

He provided a roadside breath test and was subsequently arrested before failing to provide a breath specimen.

Barrister Irene Sands said her client has been a livestock scanner for 30 years and the loss of his licence will be significant.

Lawless is also a volunteer first responder and was the first responder at the scene of a fatal accident which claimed the life of a local man during Storm Ophelia.

He found it difficult to cope with that incident and became reliant on alcohol.

Ms Sands added she has ‘excellent references’ on behalf of the accused.

‘It’s lucky he didn’t get half the country going down the motorway,’ commented Judge Coughlan.

On the refusal charge, a €10 fine and fouryear disqualification were imposed, the disqualification postponed for six months.

The dangerous driving charge was taken into consideration.