A 42-year-old, married, mother of three, who when driving her friend home after they had drunk a few glasses of wine, pulled out in front of a Garda car, was disqualified from driving for three years at Ballina District Court on Tuesday.
Garda Rebecca Fearon was on duty on September 1 2008 at 2.23am in the Kilalla Road area when a silver Honda Civic suddenly emerged from Castlefield Manor estate, which resulted in Garda Fearon immediately braking. The car entered a nearby estate where it was then stopped.
Sharon Mulvihill, 36 the Old Mill Stone, Kilalla Road, Ballina, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving. A subsequent urine sample showed 261mg of alcohol per 100ml of urine.
Acting solicitor Aidan Crowley said that after consuming some wine with her friend, Mulvihill decided to drive her the short distance home as it was raining and her friend was after recovering from cancer.
The defendant was convicted and fined €500 by Judge Mary Devins, and disqualified from driving.
