Clare motorist banned following crash which left pedestrian 'pinned' between two cars

A Clare woman has been disqualified for three years arising from a drink-driving incident which left a pedestrian "pinned" between two parked cars.

Mary Keenan-Joyce, aged 36, of Westwood Golf Links Road, Ennis was due to appear before Ennis District Court on Wednesday morning having been charged with dangerous driving and driving while intoxicated under the Road Traffic Act.

However, there was no appearance by Ms Keenan-Joyce when her case was called, with her solicitor, Tara Godfrey, saying that there had been an emergency in her home on Sunday night.

Judge Alec Gabbett said Ms-Keenan Joyce should’ve been in attendance anyway and he issued a bench warrant for her arrest.

The defendant was subsequently arrested by gardaí and she appeared before the court later that morning.

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When the case was called for the second time, the court heard that gardaí responded to a road traffic incident that occurred on Bindon Street, Ennis on April 4, 2025.

Sergeant John Burke said a car being driven by the defendant crashed into a parked vehicle, which was pushed forward by the force of the collision. The parked vehicle then hit a pedestrian, leaving him stuck and pinned between the two parked vehicles.

Gardaí attended the scene and a blood sample which was subsequently given by Ms Keenan-Joyce returned a concentration of 217mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood - more than four times the legal limit.

Judge Alec Gabbett noted the defendant has not driven since the incident and that there were no issues regarding her insurance or driver's licence of the day. "It could have been much worse," he commented.

Having formally convicted Ms Keenan-Joyce, Judge Alec Gabbett imposed a fine of €200 and he disqualified her from driving for three years.