Longford District Court: Three year ban for drink driving

A mother of four convicted of drink driving was banned from the road for three years at Longford District Court.

Lima Akrimiene (37) of 11 The Willows, Clonbalt Woods, Longford faced a charge that on June 25, 2023 at Longford Shopping Centre, Townspark she drove a mechanically propelled vehicle with an excess amount of alcohol in her system.

Sgt Enda Daly, for the State, outlined details of the offence. Sgt Daly said that at 1:20am on the date of the incident officers in a patrol car observed a motor car travelling at high speed on the Battery Road. The vehicle crossed over the white line as it drove down the road.

The patrol vehicle followed the car and indicated for it to stop at Longford Shopping Centre. When they spoke to the driver, Ms Akrimiene, there was a strong smell of alcohol.

The defendant failed a road side test and was brought to Longford Garda station. An Evidenzer test returned a reading of 74mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

Solicitor Brid Mimnagh said her client is 12 years living in Ireland and has never come to Garda attention before this incident. Ms Mimnagh said her client, a mother of four, was going through a particularly stressful time when the offence occurred.

The legal representative explained that the defendant's landlord was selling the house in which she lived, and she was on the verge of becoming homeless.

The solicitor said Ms Akrimiene accepted her guilt and entered an early plea. The court was told the defendant works part time.

Ms Mimnagh asked Judge Shalom Binchy to consider deferring the imposition of the mandatory ban until February to afford her client an opportunity to get her affairs in order.

Taking the facts of the case into consideration Judge Binchy disqualified the defendant for three years and imposed a fine of €300 with six months to pay.

The driving ban comes into force on February 1, 2024.