‘Problematic drinker’ collided with minibus and then hit wall on busy Kilkenny road

A woman who has no recollection of colliding with a minibus and then a wall has been convicted of drink driving and dangerous driving.

Guilty pleas were entered to the charges at Kilkenny District Court, where evidence was heard in the case.

Garda Jennifer Martin said a two-vehicle road collision took place at Archersrath, just outside Kilkenny, at 5.30pm on November 30 last.

A minibus coming from the direction of Bennettsbridge towards the city and a Toyota Yaris coming from the city collided on a bend, at Archersgrove.

Garda Martin spoke to both drivers at the scene.

John Carthy, driver of the minibus, said the oncoming Yaris veered onto his side of the road and the collision occurred.
He made every attempt to stay to the left, pulling into the verge, but could not avoid the impact with the other vehicle.
Mr Carthy was not injured and there were no passengers on the minibus.

Catherine Hayes, 2 The Orchard, Inistioge, was driver of the Yaris. She was being attended to by an ambulance crew. She told the garda she didn’t remember anything.

After the collision with the minibus Ms Hayes’s car continued on another 50 metres and collided with a high, stone wall, causing extensive damage to the vehicle. Ms Hayes was taken to St Luke’s Hospital to be treated for an injury to her eye and pains in her side.

Before she left the scene, Ms Hayes failed a roadside breath test, Garda Martin said. Gardaí followed to the hospital where a blood sample was taken. This showed 162mg of alcohol per 100mls of blood.

Ms Hayes later underwent surgery on her eye socket at St James’s Hospital in Dublin. She suffered six broken ribs and a broken nose.
She had no previous convictions.

Solicitor Chris Hogan said his client is 37 and a ‘problematic drinker’. Ms Hayes uses alcohol to self medicate and dull the pain of childhood incidents, the solicitor said.

Ms Hayes was doing well but in her 20s she suffered two bereavements and then drink became problematic. She gave up aged 23 but had a relapse.

Mr Hogan said his client did not drink on the day of the accident but because of the amount she had been drinking it had ‘built up in her system.’ She has not driven since and has no intention of driving.

Mr Hogan said his client has not had a drink since this incident. She is apologetic and is attending therapy. Mr Hogan asked the court to give his client credit for her early plea.

Judge Geraldine Carthy took into account the mitigation and said she was satisfied the defendant was remorseful.
Convicting Ms Hayes of drink driving, the judge imposed a fine of €250 and driving disqualification of three years.
For dangerous driving a fine of €200 was handed down with a driving ban of two years.