Offaly man caught drink-driving after uncle's funeral

A SOLICITOR told Tullamore District Court his client had only himself to blame for drink-driving after a funeral.

Paul Troy (50), Clontyglass, Kilcormac, admitted driving with excess alcohol in his breath at Ballincloghan, Kilcormac on July 16 last.

Sergeant Brendan Kearns told Judge Andrew Cody that the concentration of alcohol in Mr Troy's case was 91 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 22 micrograms.

The court heard a car was seen crossing the white line and when it was followed it continued driving in the middle of the road.

Mark O'Sullivan, defending solicitor, said Mr Troy had been at his uncle's funeral, a man he was particularly close to because his own father had passed away when he was 11.

He had consumed too much alcohol over two days in a rural area and he couldn't get a taxi so he made the foolish decision to drive home.

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Mr O'Sullivan said Mr Troy, a father of two adult children, knew he was going to get a three-year disqualification from driving and he handed in letters from his manager and his partner.

Along with the three-year driving ban Judge Cody fined Mr Troy €300.