Longford drunk driver had 'no lights on' when detected by Gardaí

A drunk driver, who was detected by Gardaí after they spotted him driving with no lights on, has received a two year disqualification.
Cormac Harte of Corboy, Edgeworthstown, Longford pleaded guilty at the local district court to drink driving on January 26 last at 1.05am.

Sergeant Enda Daly said Gardaí were on mobile patrol at Tesco car park when they observed a motorist driving with no lights on.
Officers followed the vehicle and they stopped the driver and spoke to him at nearby Bannon Terrace.
Gardaí noticed that his speech was slurred and his eyes were glassy and he was subsequently arrested.
A test was carried out at Longford Garda Station which gave a reading of 53mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.
The legal limit is 22mg.

Mr Harte, who represented himself, told Judge Bernadette Owens he bought the car and he had been showing it to a friend on the day in question and they had been in town.
Mr Harte appealed to Judge Bernadette Owens to be as lenient as possible as he did not believe driving in the car park was as serious an offence as being behind the wheel on the main public roads.
"I was parked in Tesco car park and I did not leave the car park, I did drive under the influence but I am asking you to be as lenient as possible because I did not drive on any public roads,” he added.

Mr Harte said he is currently living at home with his parents and employed on a construction site in Athlone earning €550 per week.
Mr Harte requested a six-month postponement on the disqualification from Judge Owens as he said it would give him additional time to save money in his job.
The defendant stated it would give him time to save money and he said he was considering going travelling when his driving disqualification was activated.

Judge Owens and the Gardaí agreed to the request.
Judge Owens imposed a €500 fine with five months to pay and the mandatory two year driving ban.

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