A 29-year-old man who, when drunk, drove his car on the wrong side of the road around a bend and caused a garda car to swerve to avoid a collision was before Belmullet District Court this week.
Inspector Joe Doherty outlined that on March 1 this year at 6am in Kilsallagh, Bellacorick, Raymond Barrett, Bunahowen, Ballina drove around a bend on the wrong side of the road into an oncoming garda car which swerved out of the way. Barrett, who was followed and stopped, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, with a breath analysis showing 84mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.
According to Samantha Geraghty, solicitor, Barrett was bringing his then girlfriend, who felt ill, home from a night out in Westport. Ms Geraghty said that her client has a drink problem and is unemployed.
Barrett, who has a previous driving disqualification, was convicted and fined €1,000 by Judge Mary Devins for drink driving and was disqualified for six years. Judge Devins said that if a community service assessment report shows that Barrett is suitable for completing community service, she would impose a total of 200 hours community service in lieu of six months in prison, and adjourned the case until January 13 2010 for the report.
