Drunk driver 'going the wrong direction' on one-way Limerick street
A FEMALE motorist was found to be four times over the legal alcohol limit after gardai stopped her for driving the wrong way down a one-way Limerick street on St Stephen’s Day.
Kathleen Sheridan, aged 34, of Fairhill, Rathkeale pleaded guilty, at Newcastle West Court, to careless driving, driving without a licence or insurance and drink driving.
Michael O’Donnell, solicitor for Ms Sheridan, told Judge Carol Anne Coolican that his client was not in court. “There is a plea of guilty. She had to return to the UK rather urgently. She has four children,” said Mr O’Donnell.
Judge Coolican agreed to hear the case in Ms Sheridan’s absence.
Inspector Gearoid Thompson, prosecuting, said the defendant was observed by gardai driving the wrong way on a one way street at Bank Place, Rathkeale on December 26, 2022.
“They stopped the vehicle and spoke to the driver. She was arrested on suspicion of drink driving. She was conveyed to Rathkeale garda station where she gave a reading of 40mgs of alcohol per 100mls of breath.
“The limit for specified drivers is 9mgs of alcohol per 100mls of breath. She didn’t have a driving licence or insurance. The vehicle was seized,” said Insp Thompson, who added that Ms Sheridan has no previous convictions.
Mr O’Donnell said Ms Sheridan was coming back from the shop at the time.
“It is a short stretch of one way before you return to the normal course of the road,” said Mr O’Donnell.
Judge Coolican disqualified Ms Sheridan from driving for two years and fined her €500 for drink driving. The defendant was fined €500 for not having insurance and put off the road for one year. Ms Sheridan was fined €250 for careless driving.
The driving licence summons was taken into consideration.