Drunk driver who had son in car sentenced to prison
A father, who drove drunk while he had his 10-year-old son in the car, was sentenced to three months in prison at Ballina District Court on Tuesday.
At a previous sitting of Ballina District Court, the court heard that Seamus Togher, Cloonalaughan, Carramore Lacken, was arrested for drink driving on August 3 2009 in Ballycastle, where a blood sample later given showed 246mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.
The defendant has sole custody of his son. The court heard that Togher has a previous drink driving conviction and was found to be drunk while in charge of a child.
Inspector Joe Doherty said that as this was a “very serious case” a referral has been made to the relevant authorities as regards the welfare of the child.
Judge Mary Devins said that there were “absolutely no mitigating circumstances” in this “aggravated case of drink driving”.
Togher was convicted and fined €1,000 and disqualified (with an ancillary disqualification ) for five years and also sentenced to three months in prison.
Recognisances were fixed.
