Drunk driver almost three times over limit was responding to Longford 'family emergency'

An off-duty professional driver who was detected by Gardaí driving erratically and crossing on to the wrong side of the road, narrowly missing other vehicles, has been fined and disqualified for two years.

Piotr Drews (41) of 20 Pearse Drive, Longford pleaded guilty at the local district court to drink driving at Pearse Road, Longford and dangerous driving ar Connaught Road on September 27, 2025.

Sergeant Mark Mahon, for the State, told the court that at 12-midnight on the date in question Garda Edward Flanagan was on patrol when he observed a jeep being driven in an erratic manner on the Athlone Road.

"Gardaí were on patrol on the Harbour Road; they observed the defendant, in a public place, driving a white jeep in an erratic manner.

"He travelled in the direction of the Athlone Road when it took a bad bend crossing on to the wrong side of the road and narrowly avoiding a collision.

"The Garda vehicle followed him at a safe distance and he proceeded along the Athlone Road turning right into Townspark Industrial estate."

Sgt Mahon said the defendant then continued on and turned onto Connaught Road and he failed to stop at a posted stop sign, narrowly avoiding a white Ford Transit van.

Mr Drews was stopped by Gardaí and a roadside breath test was carried out which he failed.

The defendant was arrested and brought to Longford Garda Station where a breath test gave a reading of 65mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

The legal limit is 22mg.

Sgt Mahon said a first offence with that alcohol level carried a mandatory two year driving ban, while a second offense carried a four year disqualification.

The defendant had one previous conviction for drunk driving.

Solicitor Frank Gearty, defending, said that incident was a very long time ago and this was a very 'serious situation' for his client, a married father of three and a professional driver.

"He has a good job driving around the country and he is married with three children and he has all sorts of financial obligations connected with his house."

Mr Gearty said Mr Drews, a Polish national who has lived in Ireland for 20 years, cooperated fully with Garda Flanagan and there had been a 'family emergency' and he had only gone out looking to locate his teenage daughter.

The legal representative said the squad car came upon his client and his driving was 'shocking' after that.

"He would like you to know that he is a professional driver and it would not be his normal state to be like that, thankfully there was no accident."

Mr Gearty asked Judge Bernadette Owens if she would consider postponing a driving ban until April 1.

Judge Owens convicted and Mr Drews and she imposed a €750 fine with 11-months to pay and she agreed to defer the two year driving ban until April 1, 2026.

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