A man who crashed his car while he was drunk had his case dismissed at Ballina District Court this week.
On July 11 2010, Garda Joseph Newell attended Ballybeg, Knockmore, after a call was made to the Gardaí about an unauthorised taking of a car.
Brian Ward, Ballybeg, Ballina, was at the scene, where his car was crashed in the vicinity.
The garda noticed that the defendant had dirt on his clothing, marks on his forehead, and there was a smell of alcohol from him.
Ward made allegations that after he came home in a taxi he found his car crashed and that someone must have taken it as his keys may have been taken from his pocket earlier that night.
Ward denied driving, however then told the garda after caution that: “I was f***ing stupid I couldn’t get a taxi so drove the car.” The defendant was arrested at 3.55am. A urine sample which was provided gave a reading of 120mg of alcohol per 100ml of urine.
The case was dismissed by Judge Mary Devins as the garda in direct evidence failed to give the initial time at which he arrived at the scene.
