Motorist disqualified and fined for drink driving in Dundalk

A man refused to comply with a requirement to give a specimen after he was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, after he moved from a right hand lane to a left one at a junction forcing the driver of a patrol car to brake.

Charles Hutchinson (42) of Dowdalls Crescent, Newry Road Dundalk was also charged with driving without a driving licence or insurance and failing to produce his driving documents following the incident at Barrack Street, Dundalk on March 18th last year.

The court heard gardaí were on mobile patrol around 9.10pm when they saw the defendant perform the manoeuvre.

Gardaí were forced to brake to avoid a collision and he was stopped on St. Alphonsus Road and admitted he had taken alcohol and that he had no driving licence.

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His eyes were glazed and his speech slurred and after he was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, he refused to provide two breath specimens at Dundalk Garda Station, and also refused to provide a blood or urine specimen.

Judge Michael Ramsey was told the defendant had 23 previous convictions, the most recent in 2018, and he had one for drunk driving in 2003.

The court heard the most significant conviction was for manslaughter in 2014 for which he was sentenced to five years.

The Defence solicitor said his client regrets that he didn't cooperate when asked and he will pay the price for that by serving a longer period of disqualification.

Judge Ramsey imposed fines totalling €1,250 and a four year driving ban and fixed recognizance in the event of an appeal, in his own bond of €100.