Cork motorist convicted of drink-driving ‘will have to move house’

A motorist who was driving while intoxicated and crashed his car will have to move house as a result of the conviction, the district court has heard.

Sergeant Trish O’Sullivan told Macroom District Court gardaí were alerted to a single-vehicle road traffic accident near Kilnamartyra, Co Cork, at 4am on August 10, 2024.

When they arrived at the scene on the R584 near Toons Bridge, they found a car embedded into a wall on the right hand side of the road.

When they approached the vehicle, Jonathan Kingsbury, aged 41, of Caheravarane, Lowertown, Schull, was still sitting in the driver’s seat. Kingsbury’s eyes were glassy, his speech was slurred, and he failed a roadside breath test at the scene.

He was taken to Macroom Garda Station where a further test confirmed he was over the limit, with an alcohol level of 58mg per 100ml of breath, where the legal limit is 22mg.

The court was told a charge of careless driving was withdrawn as Kingsbury was pleading guilty to drink-driving.

Previous convictions

The court heard Kingsbury had 20 previous convictions, including for drink-driving and refusing to give a sample, though these offences were more than 10 years ago.

Defence solicitor Eimear Griffin said her client lived in a very rural location between Schull and Goleen and a conviction would have “a significant impact” on his life.

The court was told Kingsbury was currently renting and would have to move as it would not be practical for him to continue living at the same location if he could not drive.

Ms Griffin asked Judge Joanne Carroll if she would consider deferring the commencement of the driving disqualification given Kingsbury’s circumstances.

Judge Carroll convicted and fined Kingsbury €250, allowing four months for the fine to be paid. 

She also disqualified him from driving for two years and postponed the commencement of the ban until May 1, to give Kingsbury time to move.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme