Drink driving conviction after car blocked busy Kilkenny road

A motorist who overtook another car then, moments later, was found stopped blocking the roadway, has been convicted of drink driving at Kilkenny District Court.

Shane Leddin, 90 St Brigid’s Crescent, Muine Bheag, Carlow, had contested the charge but was convicted after a hearing.

The court heard from Philip Campion who said that on September 11 last he was driving from Kilkenny to Freshford when he was overtaken by another car.

About ‘a minute later’ Mr Campion came around a turn and saw the same car in the middle of the road, facing across the road, with lights flashing. This was in the Threecastles area at about 8.10pm.

Mr Campion got out of his own car and could hear cars approaching from behind him. He went past the turned car to alert vehicles coming from the other side.
It was ‘dusky’ but not dark. He telephoned gardaí.

Mr Campion said he saw a person get out of the turned car. Garda Ray Barry attended the scene of the incident. He told the court he saw a Volkswagen sideways on the carriageway and a telegraph pole was also damaged.

The garda spoke to witnesses. Mr Leddin, who had been the driver of the Volkswagen, failed a roadside breath test and he was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.

At Kilkenny Garda Station an intoxilizer test returned a result of 70mcg of alcohol per 100mls of breath.
He was charged with drink driving.

Following the prosecution evidence solicitor Joe Farrell declined to go into defence evidence.
He said his client had been employed driving a vehicle and his licence was important to him, and on that basis had contested the case.
At the moment Mr Leddin is on social welfare, the solicitor said.

Judge Geraldine Carthy observed the blood/breath level was high. She imposed the mandatory three year driving disqualification and ordered Mr Leddin to pay a fine of €700.
Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal.