Motorist at crash scene in Co Cork was too drunk to talk, court hears

A motorist who was found slumped behind the wheel of car involved in a single vehicle accident was too drunk to talk, the district court was told.

Sergeant Tom Mulcahy said Keith Connell, aged 51 of Brooklawns, Pollerton, Co Carlow, was the driver of a car found crashed at School Road, Carriganat, Bantry, Co Cork, on December 6, 2024.

Clonakilty District Court heard when gardaí arrived at the scene at 3.50pm, Connell was sitting behind the wheel with the engine still running. When gardaí tried to question Connell about what had happened, he was unable to talk. The court was told there was a strong smell of alcohol and Connell was arrested.

While in custody, gardaí called paramedics to attend to Connell such was his state of inebriation they feared for his safety. Although a doctor was not available to do a blood test, Connell was charged with being in charge of a vehicle while intoxicated, and also with being drunk in public based on the observations of attending gardaí.

The court was told Connell had 11 previous convictions and was currently being held on remand in Midlands Prison is relation to a European arrest warrant. 

Defence barrister Tim O’Connor said his client was pleading guilty and had a significant medical history, including bipolar disorder. He said Connell had “a rough background” and on the day in question he had ended up in Bantry “not knowing how he got there”.

Judge Joanne Carroll disqualified Connell from driving for four years on the drink-driving charge and struck out the charge of being intoxicated in public.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme