A married father of four was convicted at Ballina District Court this week for drink driving and was disqualified from driving for a total of three years.
On March 12 2009 at 4.20am, Garda Petrina Devery responded to a disturbance at Greenhills Estate. When gardaí arrived at the scene, Patrick Joseph Ward, 25 Dolmen View, Ballina, was observed to leave the estate in his transit van. Gardaí signalled for the driver to stop, however the van drove at speed past the Garda car, which forced the car to swerve out of the way. Gardaí followed the vehicle and it came to a stop at Healy Terrace.
After Ward was arrested for drink driving a blood sample was given which showed 219mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.
The 34-year-old, who has six previous road traffic convictions, was convicted and fined €600 by Judge Mary Devins, disqualified for two years, and given a one year ancillary disqualification.
