A 54-year-old bachelor from Sligo who was observed by gardaí driving without indication on a roundabout and then veering towards a parked car, was convicted at Ballina District Court this week for drink driving and dangerous driving.
At 10.08pm on June 3 this year on Clare Street, Ballina, Garda Melanie McGowan who was in a patrol car, saw a Honda 50 motorbike turn right without indication; the vehicle then proceeded to turn left at a roundabout without using indication. The driver of the bike, Thomas Murray, Cooga, Easkey, Sligo, was observed to lose control of the bike as it veered towards a parked car before Murray regained control. Gardaí tried to stop the car but the defendant continued to drive and was only stopped when the garda car was driven in front of the bike.
Murray, who was arrested for drink driving, later provided a blood sample which showed 188mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.
The small farmer, who has no previous convictions and who used the bike as his only form of transport, was convicted and fined €600 by Judge Patrick Clyne, and also disqualified from driving for three years.
