A student who “stupidly” drove home after a night drinking with friends to celebrate Armagh’s All-Ireland win has been banned from the road for 12 months.
However, District Judge Laura Ievers told Brea Donachy, from Kilmacanty Road, Armagh, that she can count herself fortunate it was only a ban and a £250 fine after the 19-year-old crashed her car and gave a false name to police at the scene.
A prosecution lawyer told Armagh Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday that on July 30, at around 2.30am, police were called to a one vehicle road traffic collision on Sandymount Road, Richhill.
Upon arrival, police observed a red Volkswagen Polo on the grass verge having clearly collided with a fence.
The defendant was sitting in the driver’s seat of the car with the engine running, however, she gave police a false name.
Donachy appeared heavily intoxicated and smelled strongly of alcohol and was slurring her words.
A preliminary breath test was carried out, which resulted in a reading of 101 milligrams. She was subsequently arrested and taken to Dungannon custody, where she provided a lower evidential reading of 81 milligrams.
Whilst in custody the defendant gave conflicting stories about the collision.
However, police called to the last registered owner’s address and confirmed with her parents that the correct name was Brea Donachy.
Her parents were able to confirm what she was wearing, the vehicle reg and that she’d driven into Armagh earlier in the day to go for drinks.
Defence solicitor, Chris Rafferty, described Donachy as “an industrious young lady” who currently has two jobs and is studying at the University of Ulster. He handed the court clerk references from the university.
He explained that his client had gone into Armagh to celebrate Armagh’s homecoming.
“She took her car into Armagh, with the intention of leaving the vehicle there, and meeting up with some friends,” he said.
“Later on in the night she lost her friends and stupidly decided to drive.”
Mr Rafferty said the loss of licence was “going to hugely impact not only on her studies at the University of Ulster, but it’s going to impact on her placement year” and “going by her parents, and herself, she won’t be before the court ever again”.
Judge Ievers, in passing sentence, said: “Through everything that’s been said, so ably on your behalf by Mr Rafferty, I see the person that you are and that you can be in this world, and there are very positive references on your behalf.
“I know that you understand the seriousness of this offence…because at first blink, when I realised that you were over twice the limit, and when I realised that you had been somewhat obstructive with the officers when they spoke to you about your identity, it seemed to me that I couldn’t deal with this case by way simply of a fine and a 12 month disqualification.
“But much has been said to counter that, both in terms of your prospects and the significant support that you have, both in terms of the family support and, as I say, educational and professional support.
“So what I’m going to do, and given that this is your first offence, and then the real hope and expectation that you’ve learned from it, and knowing that the knock-on effect of any sort of disqualification is going to be very significant, is to mark this with a fine of £250, together with £15 offenders’ levy, and I will disqualify you for the 12 month period…but that is until tested.”
Donachy was certified for the drink driving course, which would reduce the disqualification period to nine months upon completion.
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