Woman was “off her head on cocaine” behind the wheel in Laois

A car driven by a woman who was “off her head on cocaine” had hours earlier driven on the wrong side of the road forcing a car driven by a garda to mount the kerb.

Lauren Kelly (23) of 149 The Hermitage, Borris Road, Portlaoise, was accused of drug driving at Manor Road and failing to provide information at Acragar, Mountmellick on August 4, 2022. 

Detective Garda Darcy said he was driving in Mountmellick on the date in question at 12.55am when a black VW Golf “came towards me around the bend on the wrong side of the road.” Garda Darcy said he had to take evasive action and mounted the kerb as a result. 

A number of hours later he said he spotted the same car in O’Moore Street and he followed it as it turned onto Manor Road.  He said the car crossed a continuous  white line and he pulled it over. 

He spoke to the driver who said “I don’t know what you are talking about.” 

Det Darcy said her behaviour was quite erratic. “She was irate and shouting at me for stopping her initially to almost sedated,” he explained. 

He formed the opinion that she was under the influence and he decided to conduct a roadside test which came back positive for cocaine. 

The woman was arrested and taken to the garda station where a blood sample was obtained. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby asked Garda Darcy about the car which had forced him off the road some hours before he stopped the defendant. 

“She was the registered owner of the vehicle but I didn’t see the driver,” said Det Darcy. 

Anne Doyle BL said her client was abroad and she questioned what attempts had been made to inform her of the proceedings. 

Det Darcy said he had called to her house where her friend was video calling her. He said he had informed her of the proceedings. He said the  woman had five previous convictions. 

Judge Andrew Cody noted the high reading at the sitting of Portlaoise District Court. “It is nine times the legal limit,” he remarked. 

“This lady undoubtedly was off her head on cocaine,” said Judge Cody. 

He fined her €1,000 and disqualified her from driving for a total of four years.