“She’s not a kick-start machine,” said Judge John Neilan as he disqualified a man from driving for seven years after he said the machine used to test his alcohol level was faulty.
The interpreter who attended with Irmantas Sarokas, 4 Ashfield, Ashe Road, when he was to be tested for drink driving at Mullingar Garda Station on May 4 was summonsed to appear before Mullingar District Court to confirm or deny his story that the machine had needed “a few thumps” to get it started and made a growling noise as if a dog was underneath it.
The woman said the garda did not hit the machine and that it needed time to reset itself. She said she described to the man the normal procedure but he then refused to give a sample.
Judge Neilan ordered that the defendant pay €250 expenses to the woman for attending court and told her to contact the inspector if the money was not forthcoming.
The court heard that Mr Sarokus, who was not legally represented and declined legal aid, had a previous conviction for a similar offence in 2006.
He had nothing to say to the court and was fined €2,500 with four months to pay and 90 days imprisonment if he failed to do so.
