A taxi driver was left “horrified” when a motorist overtook him in a dangerous manner and continued to drive erractically, mounting a number of curbs, the Galway District Court heard.
Failing to contest the charges of dangerous driving, obstruction, and failing to give a breath sample Jubilee Echefu (42 ) with an address at 93 Gleann Dara, Rahoon, was fined a total of €1,200 with six months to pay, disqualified from driving for four years, and ordered to pay witness expences of €120.
The taxi driver told the hearing, held at Galway District Court on Monday, that on January 14 2011, at 10.50pm he had been driving with a passenger down Monivea Road where there was a “line of traffic, both ways”. Despite the traffic, a car overtook him on the left hand side forcing him to “break hard”. He told the court that he had been “shocked” and “horrified” by the dangerous manner of the driving which continued to the Wellpark Grove junction where the car veered to the left and mounted the footpath. At the Bohermore roundabout the car again mounted the curb resulting in “the two wheels up on the footpath”. It was at this point that the taxi driver contacted gardai.
Garda Robert Bradley gave evidence that at 11pm he received a report of dangerous driving near the Sean Mulvoy Road, however when he and Garda Darragh Egan got to the scene there was no sign of the vehicle. After receiving the owner’s details through the registration number they went to Gleann Dara where the car was spotted pulling into a driveway. Echefu, who was seen getting out of the vehicle, was approached by Garda Bradley who informed her of the allegation of dangerous driving and arrested her at 11.06pm. The court heard that when Garda Bradley placed his hand on Echefu’s shoulder to guide her to the patrol car she “protested” shouting that she needed to go into the house to use the toilet. Garda Bradley explained that the request was refused as the defendant was under arrest at that stage and that it might have been difficult to get her out of the house again. He then said that Echefu was released when she suddenly used her free hand to lift up her skirt and urinated in full view of the gardai.
Garda Bradley said that while en route to the Garda station, Echefu admitted that a taxi driver had complained about her hitting a curb and that she had been cooking dinner and had a glass of wine. At the Garda station, Garda Bradley observed that there was a strong smell of alcohol from the defendant’s breath and that her eyes were glassy and he formed an opinion that she had been driving while under the influence of an intoxicant.
Garda Egan told the court that when attempting to carry out an intoxiliser test at the station the defendant had failed to listen to him and to comply with the requirement to give a breath sample. He also confirmed that there had been a strong smell of alcohol and he formed an opinion that Echefu had consumed alcohol.
Under oath, Echefu said that she had visited a friend earlier that evening and had drunk a glass of malt wine stating that it was non alcoholic. She denied hitting any curbs and that when approached by gardai she tried to ask them not to arrest her in front of her children and told them she needed the toilet. Under cross examination by Inspector Ernie White, Echefu denied that she had needed the toilet because of her level of intoxication at that time.
After hearing the evidence, Judge Mary Fahy said: “The taxi-man is an experienced driver, carrying a passenger, and it is clear that he came to the decision he had to do his civic duty and phone gardai. He was 100 per cent sober and 100 per cent correct and this lady did mount the footpath and in these cases gardai have to act on information immediately.” She then convicted Echefu on all charges.
