Electric Picnic contractor employee crashed van while drug and drink diving in Laois

An Electric Picnic contractor employee had no driving licence and was uninsured while drunk and drug driving before crashing into a car carrying four young women in Stradbally. 

Dara Byrne (24) of 67 Ringsend Park, Ringsend, Dublin 4 admitted to driving without reasonable consideration while under the influence and uninsured without a licence at Loughteeog, Stradbally on September 1, 2023. 

Garda Ross Foy said he responded to a collision between a 191 registered Ford Focus and 232D Ford Transit van at 8.20am on the date in question. He said there were four young ladies in the Focus and the defendant had been driving the van. 

Garda Foy said the defendant failed a roadside drug swab. He said the driver was over the drug driving limit for cocaine and was also over legal alcohol limit when tested. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick asked if the collision occurred in an area “within the enclosures of the Electric Picnic” and she asked about her client’s demeanour. 

Garda Foy said it was just on the outskirts on a rural country road. He said the defendant was “very easy to deal with on the day. More than apologetic.” 

Ms Fitzpatrick said the defendant was a “project manager looking after garda deployment” at the festival. 

She said the man was in charge of moving barriers and had been there since 5am. “He thought the road was closed off,” she explained. 

“He gave no thought that he had these substances in his system,” Ms Fitzpatrick added. 

She said the company that employed the defendant had paid for the damage and “he has undergone an internal disciplinary procedure” following the incident. 

“These are sub contractors to An Garda Siochana?” asked Judge Andrew Cody. 

“I believe they work for the Electric Picnic. They put the barriers around,” Garda Foy replied. 

Judge Cody said an application for a licence to hold the Electric Picnic was due before the court the following day. 

He said the defendant was “12 times the limit for cocaine” and asked about contractors “providing security coked out of their heads”.

Ms Fitzpatrick said her client was not security and had been employed to erect barriers at the event.  “He is not a security worker,” she said. 

“It just happened they were erecting fencing in the garda area at the time,” she explained. 

Judge Cody said the incident raises “questions about the quality of contractor being engaged by the Electric Picnic.” 

Ms Fitzpatrick said her client had pleaded guilty and “dealt with it upfront and honestly” and she noted he hadn’t been fired from his job. 

“Shows what they are willing to tolerate,” said Judge Cody. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said the man is “one of their most valued project managers” who was kept on because he is a good worker. 

Judge Cody fined the man €500 and disqualified him from driving for two years for the driving under the influence of cocaine. He imposed a further €500 fine and two year disqualification for drink driving. Another €500 fine and two year ban was issued for not having insurance and a €250 fine was imposed for not having a licence with a further €250 fine for driving without reasonable consideration.