Drunk driver in Laois had no tyre and sparks coming from wheel
A member of the public was commended for reporting the driver
A drunk motorist was caught driving a car with no tyre and sparks flying from the wheel.
Miklos Balogh (47) of 18 Rossmore, Roscrea, Tipperary was accused of careless driving, drunk driving and driving a dangerously defective vehicle on the R445 at Borris-in-Ossory on January 10, 2023.
Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant “was driving with a steel rim with sparks coming out” and a member of the public alerted gardai.
He said the Ford Galaxy was stopped by gardaí at 2.40am. The vehicle was examined and deemed to be dangerously defective. The driver gave a breath sample of 69mgs per 100mls of breath. He said the man had no previous convictions.
“I want to commend the witness for contacting gardaí,” said Sgt Kirby.
Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client was a Hungarian national. She said he was living in Ireland with his family and he has some medical issues. She asked that the judge might grant him a postponement on any disqualification so that he could put arrangements in place.
Sgt Kirby said the defendant has no previous convictions and he had saved the prosecution time by admitting guilt.
Judge Andrew Cody fined the man a total of €1,100 and disqualified him from driving for three years. He postponed the activation of the disqualification until August 15, 2024.