Counsellors left traumatised by drunken mini bus driver

A minibus driver who was taking a group of counsellors on a day-trip mounted the kerb, nearly reversed into another bus, and then drove through a red light.

The group insisted on getting off the bus and one of the women on the outing had to stand in front of the vehicle to prevent the driver, who had earlier stripped to the waist, from driving any further.

Garda Dermot Carroll arrived at the scene on South Mall, Cork City, at 9.30am and found Anthony O’Sullivan, 56, sitting behind the wheel of the minibus with his shirt open.

He had 326mg of alcohol per 100ml of urine when tested for alcohol later.

Judge Leo Malone disqualified him from driving for four years and fined him €400 for drink driving on July 5, 2013.

Insp Finbarr O’Sullivan said a group from Cork Counselling Centre had arranged for a minibus that morning, only to see it arrive and mount the kerb.

“The driver got out of the bus. Witnesses noticed he was unsteady on his feet. He removed his shirt...”

After putting his shirt on and nearly reversing into another coach, “he then drove through a red light. They all got off the bus as they were frightened”.

“One of the ladies from the Cork Counselling Centre stood in front of the bus to stop him from driving off,” Insp O’Sullivan said.

Graham Hyde, defending, said O’Sullivan had health difficulties and was going through a difficult period, for which he was getting support from his family.