Man caught drink and drug driving in Offaly has 'run out road'

A THREE-month suspended sentence, along with fines of €1,500 and a four-year driving ban, was imposed on a man after Tullamore District Court was told of road traffic offences.

Judge Andrew Cody heard that on September 28 last George Hibberd (27), Stradbrook, Stradbally Road, Portlaoise, was driving a Volkswagen Passat at O'Moore Street in Tullamore at 10.15am.

Sergeant Richard Thornton said the vehicle overtook a number of cars and ran a red light.

Fifteen minutes later at Daingean Road in the town the same car was driving at “high speed” in the direction of Tullamore and the driver lost control and collided with a brick wall.

Sergeant Thornton said the accused man left the scene, with the vehicle in the middle of the road and a passenger had to be brought to hospital.

The court was told the driver did not have insurance and a blood sample showed him to have a concentration of 94 micrograms which was in excess of the permitted limit.

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He was also found to have driven under the influence of an intoxicant because it was discovered there was cannabis in his system.

Sergeant Thornton added that Mr Hibberd had a previous conviction for drugs possession.

David Nugent, BL, appearing for the accused, said his client knew he had now “run out of road”. He was not a drinker but on the occasion of these offences he had.

“He wants to put his hands up and take his punishment,” said Mr Nugent, adding that the incident was very much a wake-up call for him.

The driving under the influence of an intoxicant charge was struck out when Judge Cody ruled that it, plus the excess alcohol charge, could not proceed at the same time.

Along with drink-driving, there were pleas of guilty to dangerous driving at both O'Moore Street and Daingean Road, driving without insurance, failing to give information to gardai and leaving the scene.

As well as the suspended sentence, five separate fines of €300 were imposed, plus five driving bans of up to four years.