Woman forced to drive at Electric Picnic after ex partner assault has drink driving charge dismissed
Portlaoise Courthouse
A WOMAN who drove under duress while just above the drink driving limit after being assaulted by her then partner was commended for her bravery when she sought help from gardaí.
The incident was relayed at an in-camera sitting of Portlaoise District Court last week when the accused, a 52-year-old health worker, came before it charged with drink-driving at Rathmore, Stradbally on 18 August 2024.
Garda Conor McCarthy said that while he was on duty at a junction directing traffic that Sunday, the last day of Electric Picnic, at about 6.35pm, one of three women ran to him telling him that she had seen a woman being assaulted in a car. He went to the scene and there he saw a man and woman in a white BMW car and noticed its windscreen broken and signs of violence and of injures to the woman.
He said he called for assistance from other gardaí and while waiting on their arrival, the man came from the car in a very agitated state and began abusing him. When asked what had happened, the man told him: “It’s none of your f**king business what happened.” So agitated and aggressive was the man that it took three gardaí to arrest him.
He said that while speaking with the woman, he detected a smell of alcohol from her and she failed a roadside breath test. She was then arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and taken to Portlaoise Garda Station, where she provided a sample result of 39mg alcohol to 100ml breath.
On her release, garda McGrath said that she declined to make a statement or to provide details of the alleged assault.
Defending barrister Anne Doyle said that at the time of the incident: “My client was in fear for her safety.” Garda McGrath said: “She failed to divulge what had occurred. She was quite shocked and didn’t want to say anything, but (the man named) was extremely volatile, argumentative and violent. I believe he is currently on remand in custody.” Garda Sgt Ciaran Mahoney said he responded to a call for support from garda McGrath following a report of an alleged assault.
He said that when he arrived at the scene, he said it was obvious that the man “had hit the windscreen of the car a couple of boxes. He had to be handcuffed and restrained. He was violent at the scene and in the garda station. I took photographs of her injures and had a conversation with her to try and tell her to get away from him. I have no doubt that she was assaulted. My observations of her at the time was she was extremely upset.” Giving evidence, the woman said that she and her then partner were travelling to the Electric Picnic to see one of the concerts on the last night of the festival.
She said that as they approached a junction, the man, who had been driving at this stage, hit her in her face. She said three girls approached and told her that she needed to get out of the car, while one of them ran for help from the garda.
She said: “I was afraid to get out of the car. I eventually got out. He then got out. I ran back to the car, got in and drove up to the garda. I got into the car to escape from him and to get help. I was so upset and still am. Thank God I am away from him now. I didn’t explain anything to the guards at the time because I was afraid of him. I was in a relationship with him for two years and know now that I had to get away from him.” Prosecuting garda Sgt JJ Kirby said that he had no questions to put to the witness, adding: “I want to compliment you. You were very brave in what you did.” Judge Andrew Cody said he accepted that the woman drove the vehicle while under duress and dismissed the charge of drink-driving against her.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Women’s Aid (24-hour freephone helpline on 1800 341 900, email helpline@womensaid.ie) or Men’s Aid Ireland (confidential helpline on 01 554 3811, email hello@mensaid.ie) for support and information.
