Driver was asleep at the wheel following crash

A man who lived a simple life but who needed his driving licence avoided being put off the road for a lengthy period of time when he appeared before Carlow District Court last week.

Patrick O’Leary, Spinans East, Kiltegan pleaded guilty to attempting to drive his car under the influence of alcohol after gardaí found him asleep at the wheel on 30 November 2023.

Inspector Tom Jones told the court that gardaí were called out to the scene of an accident in Spinans and that when they arrived they found Mr O’Leary asleep at the wheel of his car and that there was a strong smell of alcohol from him.

He added that 49-year-old Mr O’Leary had a previous conviction for drink-driving when he was put off the road for two years.

Solicitor Joe Farrell said that his client was “extremely fortunate” to be charged with the lesser offence of Section 5.1 of the Road Traffic Act and not the charge of drink-driving. He said that while he was “a man of minimal needs who leads a simple life”, Mr O’Leary still needed to hold onto his licence, even if it was for him to drive his tractor. Mr Farrell added that two of Mr O’Leary’s close neighbours were in court to support him and that he was “blessed to have them”.

Judge Geraldine Carthy then declined in banning him for the lengthy period of four years and instead disqualified him from driving for six months. She also fined him €200.