‘Carrauntoohil resident’ banned from driving

A courier whose only “bit of fun” is boy racing was part of a 100-strong convoy from Cork headed for Killarney last week when halted by gardaí. Stephen Croke, aged 27, of Baker’s Road, Gurranabraher, Cork, told Killarney District court he works with Fastway Couriers.

A Pole who gave his address as “Carrauntoohil”, Ireland’s highest mountain had one of the highest breath- alcohol readings ever to come before Killarney District Court. Arkadiusz Zglinski, aged 39, of Cathirlakes, Killorglin, Co Kerry, was spotted driving erratically by another driver at Knocknahone, Killarney, at about 6pm.

Zglinski who is originally from Poland, and was assisted by an interpreter, had pulled into a driveway and told the householder he was living at Carrauntoohil.

The man took the keys from him realising he was very drunk.

Gardaí were alerted and on arrest Mr Zglinski staggered around the public roadway. He was extremely intoxicated, Garda Patrick Carmody told Sgt Kieran O’Connell, prosecutor.

Within the car there was an open bottle of vodka and other empty bottles of vodka.

Sgt O’Connell said Mr Zglinski had a breath- alcohol reading of 138mg per 100ml of breath — which defence solicitor Padraig O’Connell acknowledged was “shockingly high”.

Judge James O’Connor convicted Zglinski for drink-driving and banned him from driving for six years, noting he had two previous drink-driving convictions; he also convicted him of having no insurance.