'Wow' - Judge and gardaí shocked by Kilkenny crash driver's alcohol level

Marek Mazurek, Apt. 4 Morrins Lane, Graiguecullen, Carlow, pleaded guilty to the charge of drink driving.

Garda Damien Rafter told the court that he attended the scene of a collision at Shankill, Paulstown, on December 21, 2024. He arrived at the scene at 6.20pm and met an off duty garda sergeant who had come upon the car that had crashed.

There was a man sitting in the driver’s seat of the crashed car.

The sergeant told Garda Rafter that he spoke to the man, Mr Mazurek, who had then got back into the car and attempted to leave the scene, but he couldn’t because the car was stuck in the mud.

Garda Rafter then spoke to Mr Mazurek. He got a strong smell of alcohol from him and saw he was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred.

Mr Mazurek was arrested and taken to Kilkenny Garda Station where a breath test showed a level of 111mcg of alcohol per 100 mls of breath.

The high reading prompted the judge to respond: “Wow, that’s very, very high!”

Solicitor Alex Rafter said his client had cooperated with gardaí. He was apologetic.

Mr Rafter said Mr Mazurek is from Poland and has been living in Ireland for 10 years.

His client has a ‘serious alcohol problem’ and, in the last few weeks, has been notified of proceedings to return him to Poland.

Mr Mazurek is not driving and has no intention of doing so.

Judge Geraldine Carthy said the level of alcohol in Mr Mazurek’s blood was “staggering.” She convicted him of drink driving, imposing a €500 fine and a driving disqualification of three years.