A woman who, while nearly three times over the blood alcohol limit crashed into the back of a car causing a “knock-on” effect, received a five month suspended sentence and a six year disqualification from driving at Galway District Court last Monday.
Helena Flaherty (30 ) with an address at 79 Walter Macken Place, Mervue, appeared in court charged with drink driving, driving without due care and attention, and driving without insurance at Taylor’s Hill on February 8, 2008.
Inspector Sean Glynn told the court that on the date in question at 5.15pm gardai responded to reports of a three car collision. The defendant was arrested under the Road Traffic Act and a blood sample taken at Galway Garda Station gave a reading of 235mgs of alcohol per 100mls of blood. The inspector further explained that the defendant’s car hit the back of a second vehicle causing a “knock-on effect” in which a third car was also hit.
Defence solicitor Olivia Traynor said that her client has had very serious difficulties growing up. She said that Flaherty had received a sentence previously for a similar drink driving offence and has been on temporary release on strict condition that she undergo an addiction counselling course. The condition included that she only be released to go to doctor’s appointments.
Judge Mary Fahy convicted Flaherty and imposed a four month sentence suspended for 12 months on condition that the defendant enter into a bond of €500 to be of good behaviour and to continue to attend an alcohol addiction programme. A six year disqualification from driving was also imposed. For driving without due care and attention Flaherty received a further one month sentence, to run consecutively, and which was suspended
