Man was drunk behind the wheel in Laois

A man was convicted of drunk driving in Laois after gardai received a report about his driving. 

Liam Kelly (48) of 15 Hawthorn Way, Esker Hills, Portlaoise was stopped while driving a red 152LS register VW Golf on the Ridge Road in Portlaoise on June 13 last. 

Garda CIara Hough said she was responding to a report of a drunk driver when she stopped the car at 9.05pm. She noted the driver’s speech was slurred and there was a smell of alcohol. 

Garda Hough told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court that the man failed the roadside breath test and was arrested and taken to Portlaoise Garda Station. 

Garda Billy O’Connor said he was on duty that night at Portlaoise Garda Station and carried out a test on the defendant after observing 20 minutes of nil by mouth. He said the defendant returned a breath sample of 108mgs per 100mls of breath.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant, who wasn’t present at the court sitting, had been cooperative and apologetic. He said the man had a number of previous convictions. 

Judge Andrew Cody noted that this was his fourth intoxicated driving conviction. 

He said given the defendant’s record,  he would disqualify the man from driving for eight years and  impose a fine of €2,500 and gave him six months to pay.