Offaly woman disqualified for five years for dangerous driving which resulted in crash
AN Offaly woman was convicted of dangerous driving and drink driving during the March 27 sitting of Tullamore District Court.
Summonsed to the court was Colleen Dignam, Kilbeg, Walsh Island. She was charged with committing the offences on March 25, 2023 at Garrymona, Walsh Island.
The drink driving charge stated “there was present in your body a quantity of alcohol such that the concentration of alcohol in your breath did exceed a concentration of 22 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, to wit 80 Microgrammes of Alcohol per 100 Millilitres of Breath.”
She was also charged with driving her car “in a manner (including speed) which having regard to all the circumstances of the case (including the condition of the vehicle, the nature, condition and use of such place and the amount of the traffic which then actually was or might reasonably be expected then to be therein) was dangerous to the public or was likely to be dangerous to the public.”
Ms Dignam pleaded not guilty to the offences, which resulted on the day in a road traffic accident. However Judge Andrew Cody didn't find the evidence to be convincing and he convicted.
“Having listened to the evidence,” he said, “I am satisfied that the defendant was driving on the wrong side of the road and at speed. I don't find it credible that she drank alcohol after the accident rather than before.”
The defending solicitor Patrick Martin told the court that his client is 29 years of age and is working in the hospitality industry.
Mr Martin said his client was fully insured on the day of the accident. He added that she has been suffering “from mental health issues.”
“It seems to me,” commented Judge Cody, “that she is still in denial regarding this case. This wasn't a 50/50 accident. She was definitely driving on the wrong side of the road. She was intoxicated and speeding. It is the sort of behaviour which can lead to carnage on our roads. I am satisfied that the other driver in the accident was innocent. Therefore I am convicting and fining €1,000 and disqualifying from driving for five years for dangerous driving; and I am imposing the same fine and disqualification for drink driving.”