Cork motorist who was on wrong side of the road before collision handed three-year driving ban 

A Cork woman who was driving on the wrong side of the road when her car collided with another vehicle has been banned from driving for three years.

Liz Barry (68) of Ballydevlin, Goleen, pleaded guilty at Bantry District Court to drink driving. She admitted the facts of a dangerous driving charge, which was reduced to careless driving. 

The court heard a two-vehicle collision occurred at Ballyrisode, Goleen, on June 18, 2026.

Barry was driving on the wrong side of the road when the collision happened. The second vehicle was spun into a ditch. Barry had to be cut from her car and was assessed at the scene. Neither driver suffered serious injuries, but both cars were damaged.

Gardaí observed that Barry was slurring her words and there was a smell of alcohol. She failed a roadside breath test and was arrested. 

At Bantry Garda Station, she returned a reading of 106mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 50mg, placing her in the category carrying a three-year disqualification.

Defence solicitor Flor Murphy said the crash had been a serious wake-up call. He said Barry had not driven since, had given up alcohol, attended treatment services and had strong family support. 

Mr Murphy said Barry worked in the family business, was contrite, ashamed and embarrassed, and had taken responsibility for her actions. The other driver had been compensated through insurance, he said.

Judge Joanne Carroll said Barry was a mature person with no previous convictions. She said Barry had driven on the wrong side of the road but had since stopped drinking and engaged with treatment.

“Everybody can make mistakes and errors can be made,” she said.

Judge Carroll disqualified Barry from driving for three years for drink driving. On the reduced careless driving charge, she fined her €300, allowing four months to pay.