Longford District Court: Three years off road for drink driving

A motorist who was over three times the legal limit was banned from driving for three years at Longford District Court.

Yvonne Keenan (59) of 32 Camlin Meadows, Longford pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle with a quantity of alcohol in her system exceeding the legal limit on August 28, 2023.

Sergeant Mark Mahon said that at 2:30am a vehicle was observed crossing the continuous white line at Aughadeignan, Longford. The car was stopped by Gardaí who spoke to the driver, Ms Keenan.

The officers formed the opinion the driver was over the legal limit and a subsequent blood test returned a reading of 165/100 of blood.

Sgt Mahon said the defendant had no previous convictions. Solicitor Brid Mimnagh told the judge the background to the incident.

The solicitor said the previous evening Ms Keenan had driven a friend who was feeling unwell home to Leitrim. While there she drank alcohol. The defendant had gone to sleep, but received a call about a domestic matter. As she had been asleep she thought she would be okay to diver, but was still, in fact, over the limit.

Ms Mimnagh said the defendant was very cooperative with the garda.

Taking the facts of the case into consideration Judge Bernadette Owens registered a conviction, imposing a fine of €450 with four month to pay and a three year driving ban.

Ms Mimnagh asked for legal aid as her client may lose her job as a result of the driving ban. Judge Ownes granted the legal aid application.