Longford drunk driver almost collided with Garda patrol car

A motorist who was caught drink driving and disqualified for one year, was detected by Longford Gardaí after he almost collided with the patrol car.

Casper Rademeyer of The Mills, Clondra, county Longford pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to drink driving at Richmond Street in the county town on June 26, 2024 at 12.30am.

Sergeant Enda Daly said Gardaí were on mobile patrol when they observed a grey Ford Focus stopped at traffic lights at the junction of the Longford Arms Hotel and preparing to take a left turn from Main Street onto Richmond Street.

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The prosecuting officer stated as the vehicle made the manoeuvre moments later it almost collided with the patrol vehicle and it continued to travel to Richmond Street.

Sgt Daly said Gardaí observed the car crossing over the white line and driving on the wrong side of the road on Richmond Street before returning to the correct side and officers then stopped and spoke to Mr Rademeyer.

The defendant was the sole occupant of the vehicle and he produced a full Irish driving licence.

The court heard the officers noticed Mr Rademeyer had a strong smell of alcohol from his breath, his speech was slurred, his eyes were glassy and he was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.

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A breath sample gave a result of 41mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 22mg. Sgt Daly said as the defendant has a full licence and he had not previously availed of a fixed charge penalty notice fine for drink driving the defendant was eligible for that type of punishment in this case.

However, Sgt Daly stated that a fine was processed and sent to his address but it went unpaid and a summons was then issued.

Mr Rademeyer has no previous convictions.

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Solicitor Michelle Reynolds said that in-between having been stopped by the Gardaí and the issuing of the court summons her client had changed address and he did not receive the fixed charge penalty notice fine.

She stated her client is working full-time in Longford and he has been living in Ireland for two and a half years and she asked if the disqualification could be postponed as relies on his car to bring a relative to hospital appointments.

Judge Deirdre Gearty agreed to the request and imposed a one year driving ban from December 1 next, and a fine of €350 with five months to pay.

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