Man prosecuted for drink driving in Dundalk fined and disqualified

A motorist who was seen driving at high speed on Park Street towards Dublin Street, allegedly admitted drinking four or five pints, after he was stopped by a member of the Roads Policing Unit, Dundalk district court was told last week.

Alexander Josef Niebauer (24) of Glenwood, Dundalk who did not appear for the contested hearing, was prosecuted for drink driving on the Dublin Road on June 24th last year.

The investigating garda gave evidence of seeing a green Ford Focus driving at high speed around 12.45am and that it had crossed onto the wrong side of the road and was tipping the kerb.

He stopped the defendant on the Dublin Road where he produced his learner's permit. The garda said the defendant's eyes were glazed and his speech was slurred and there was a strong smell of alcohol from him.

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At 12.55am he made the requirement for him to provide a roadside breath specimen, which Mr Niebauer failed and the court heard he allegedly replied after caution "I'm sorry, I had four or five pints after work".

He was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and was brought to Dundalk Garda Station, where he underwent a formal breath test using the Evidenzer machine that gave a reading above the legal limit.

The court heard a fixed charge penalty notice was subsequently issued for driving without due care and attention.

The Defence solicitor questioned the grounds on which the defendant was originally arrested, and the garda said he had been stopped as a result of the initial offence.

After Judge Nicola Andrews said she was going to convict, the solicitor said his client has one child and apart from that he had no instructions.

Judge Andrews imposed a €1,000 fine and a three year disqualification for the drink driving offence and a fine of €501 for driving without insurance.