A member of the Chicago Police Department who is in Mayo on holidays was disqualified from driving for four years at Claremorris District Court this week.
Brendan Carney, using an address at Curradrish, Foxford, Co Mayo, was involved in a traffic accident on the N5 at 1.25am on November 13 2011. Garda Aoife Cafferkey told the court she was called to the scene of an accident involving a rented car, which was being driven by Carney, and a mini-bus. She told the court that she tried to get Cafferkey to take a roadside breath test and on three occasions he failed to register a reading. She then arrested him on suspicion of drink driving, and he was transported to the accident and emergency department of Mayo General Hospital for treatment to injuries he sustained. Garda Cafferkey told the court she had arranged for an approved doctor from WestDoc to attend the hospital to take either a sample of blood or urine form Carney. At 3.40am she demanded he give a sample of either, which he refused to do; at 3.45am she once again demanded he give a sample, which he refused.
Carney pleaded guilty in court to refusing to give a sample. The court was told that Carney has been a member of the Chicago Police Department for 22 years where he works in traffic services and the incident will be fully investigated by his superiors when he returns from holidays there at the end of the month.
