Cork driver who crashed into lamppost had 'huge quantity of alcohol in his system'

A Cork motorist who pleaded guilty to drink driving when he crashed his car on a busy street in the middle of the day was over the legal drink driving limit, the district court has heard.

Court presenter Sergeant Eimear O’Connell told Macroom District Court that a single vehicle accident occurred at Main Street, Sleveen East, Macroom on November 25, 2024. At 2.20pm a black Opel Insignia car crashed into a lamppost causing severe damage to the vehicle and obstructing traffic. 

The court was told the street was busy with vehicles and pedestrians at the time, including local school children. The driver of the car was 45-year-old William McCarthy of Bank Place, Mallow, Co Cork. 

When gardaí arrived, McCarthy appeared intoxicated and he was arrested on suspicion of drink driving to which he later pleaded guilty. A blood alcohol test showed McCarthy had a blood alcohol level of 267 mg per 100 ml of blood where the legal limit is 50mg. 

The court was told that McCarthy had six previous convictions all of which were from before 2009. Defence solicitor, Sean Cahill, said McCarthy worked in the timber industry which was now entering its busy period. 

He said his client had pleaded guilty, was fully co-operative and had not come to garda attention since the incident. Mr Cahill asked Judge Joanne Carroll if she would consider deferring McCarthy’s driving disqualification until March next year to enable him to finish his work in the timber sector and find alternative employment.

Mr Cahill said McCarthy worked near Macroom but lived in Mallow and needed a car to get to work. He said McCarthy was willing to give an undertaking to the court that he would not drink and drive before the disqualification came into effect.

Judge Joanne Carroll said McCarthy was driving with “a huge quantity of alcohol in his system” in the middle of the day in a busy town. She noted the incident happened just a few weeks before Christmas and he had put lives at risk by his actions.

Judge Carroll said McCarthy should not be drinking and driving anyway but agreed “just about” to allow him to give an undertaking to the court. She warned McCarthy that if he broke the undertaking he would be in contempt of court.

McCarthy was convicted of driving while intoxicated and disqualified from driving for three years. The disqualification was deferred until March 1, 2026. He was also convicted of careless driving, fined €300, and given three months to pay the fine.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.