Drink-driver in Offaly four times over limit when he hit parked car

A MAN was four times over the legal limit for alcohol when he crashed into a parked car, Tullamore District Court heard.

Fintan Leonard (51), Boyne Meadows, Edenderry, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol in his breath and to careless driving at Killane Court, Edenderry on May 23 last year.

Garda Christopher Ward told the court the prosecution arose from a road traffic collision on the afternoon that day when a woman was told by her neighbour the accused had crashed into her parked car, damaging it.

A specimen of Mr Leonard's breath showed him to have a concentration of 98 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

Garda Ward said the man had 28 previous convictions and eight of those were for road traffic offences, including careless driving and failure to remain at the scene of an incident.

However, the latter offence dated back to 2004 and his most recent convictions were from 2014 for failing to wear a seat belt and using a car without insurance.

Garda Ward added that the person whose car was struck had not provided a quote for the value of the damage.

Defending solicitor Patrick Martin said his client was a father of three and noted that his previous convictions were quite dated.

He had been drinking at the time of the offence before the court because of a family bereavement and he apologised for what he had done.

Judge Andrew Cody imposed a three-year disqualification from driving along with two €200 fines.