Driver put his hands up and handed over keys

A drunk driver who collided with a parked car after the blue lights of a patrol car were activated by Gardaí, stopped, got out, put his hands in the air, handed over his keys and said: You’ve got me. It is what it is.”

Gardaí were alerted to the driving of Jordan Clerkin of 32 St John’s Terrace at the Market Yard on November 12 th last when they noticed a lot of frontal damage to the car.

When the partrol car’s blue lights were activated, Clerkin collided with a parked car at Dominic Street before stopping and getting out.

Clerkin (22) was subsequently arrested and placed in a patrol van.

While on his way to the station he kicked the door of the vehicle causing damage and had to be pepper sprayed, Inspector Donal Sweeney told the court.

The defendant had one previous conviction dating from December 2017 for being intoxicated.

Mr Tom MacSharry, solicitor (defending) said the defendant had €350 in court for the damage caused.

Clerkin told the court that it had been a moment of madness.

“It’s not my style for something to do,” he said.

He had been at a family party and had been out all night.

Mr MacSharry stressed that the defendant did instruct him to enter a plea to the offences from the start.

The court was told the defendant was currently employed in retail.

For dangerous driving, Judge Kevin Kilrane fined the defendant €200 and banned him from driving for three years.

On the drunk driving charge he was banned for a concurrent three years and fined €200.

A fine of €200 was imposed for not having insurance with another concurrent three year ban.

Judge Kilrane explained that he was upping the normal two year ban to three because of the very serious nature of the offences and that the fines were very reasonable.

If after two years of the ban he would considering an application to restore the defendant’s driving licence if there were no further alcohol or road traffic convictions recorded against him.