COURT: Tipperary man crashed his car after a funeral

A Clonmel man who crashed his car after a funeral has been convicted of drunk driving by Thurles District Court.

Stephen Byrne, 39, of 47 Thomas Street Clonmel, was not in court while the evidence was read out loud.

Gardaí told the court that on May 18, 2022, they were called to the scene of a single-car collision at Lewagh Beg, Thurles.

At the scene, they saw the car had ‘left the road and was lodged in a ditch’, and the driver was not in the vehicle.

STAGGERING

About 400 metres down the road, gardaí found the defendant staggering and wearing all dark clothing.

They told the court that the defendant gave his name, but his speech was slurred and his eyes glassy.

He told the gardaí that he had been at a funeral that day and had consumed about ten pints.

He had no way home and had decided to drive, the court was told.

The man was arrested and taken to Templemore Garda Station, where the gardaí searched him and found the keys to the car.

At the station, the man was given a breath test which showed an alcohol level of 71 over 100.

The court was told that repeated attempts had been made to contact the defendant before and on the court date. But, he could not be reached. So, the defendant was not present while the case was heard.

Judge Elizabeth MacGrath disqualified the defendant for three years and issued a €400 fine.