Motorist who drove to Cork party was arrested for drug driving twice in three hours, court hears

A man who was driving from his home in Co Meath to a party in Cork was arrested twice for drug driving within the space of three hours the district court has heard.

South African Nhlanhla Ndlull, aged 33 of Steeplechase Green, Ratoath, Co Meath, who was charged with two counts of driving while intoxicated, two counts of driving without insurance, two counts of driving without a licence and one count of careless driving, did not appear at Fermoy District Court.

Garda Peter O’Loughlin told the court that he was conducting a speed check on the M8 at Mitchelstown Co Cork on March 13, 2020 at 10.25pm. A Renault Clio car was observed travelling south at 145 km/h and was pulled over. The driver, Nhlanhla Ndlull, told Gda O’Loughlin that he was on his way to a party in Cork and had no driving licence, “seemed nervous,” was slurring his words and kept repeating himself.

When questioned Ndlull admitted taking cocaine earlier in the day and was arrested and taken to Mitchelstown Garda Station. Ndlull tested positive for cocaine via an oral fluid test, which was later confirmed by a blood test, and he was released at 12.24 am.

Garda Emma Maher told the court that she was on patrol in Fermoy, Co Cork in the early hours of March 14 when she observed a vehicle driving erratically in the town centre. The car was swerving and crossing a solid white line in an area with many pedestrians.

The car was stopped on the Cork Road in Fermoy and the driver, Nhlanhla Ndlull, appeared to be “behaving erratically”, and repeating himself. Garda Maher formed the opinion that Ndlull was under the influence of an intoxicant and at 1.25am he was arrested and taken to Fermoy Garda Station. A blood sample was taken, which later proved to be positive for cocaine and Ndlull also failed to produce valid insurance or a driving licence.

The court heard that Ndlull had 22 previous convictions and Judge Colm Roberts issued a bench warrant for Ndlull to be produced for penalty.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.