Kilkenny gardaí find unconscious driver in car with engine still running

Gardaí who discovered a car in the middle of a road, with the lights on and engine running also discovered the driver was unconscious inside the vehicle.

Kilkenny District Court heard that the driver was Peter Healy, 22 Upper Cottage, Borris, Carlow.

Sergeant Morgan O’Connor said this took place on the R703 at 12.20am on January 28 last.

The car had damage to the front left.
Mr Healy was slumped in the driver’s seat and initially did not respond to the gardaí. He eventually woke up and was ‘clearly intoxicated’.

He was taken to Kilkenny Garda Station where he initially refused to give his name and address and then refused to give a sample.

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The court heard Mr Healy had one previous conviction for drink driving from 2004.

Solicitor Conor Bass said his client had medical issues following a bad injury three years ago and has not worked since. He had been a fitter for 40 years up to that. This caused his client anxiety and depression, the solicitor said.

Mr Healy didn’t have ‘a huge memory’ of what had happened.
He is 61 and lives with his partner. He is the only driver in the household.

Judge Geraldine Carthy convicted Mr Healy and handed down a fine of €300 and a driving disqualification of four years.