Man found unsteady on his feet 150ft from crashed car escapes drink-driving ban on appeal

The judge found that Setanta Helferty's proximity to his car was not sufficient proof beyond reasonable doubt to say that he was driving his car

The court heard Setanta Helferty was walking with a dog 150 ft from the crashed car.

A 37-year-old man found by gardaí unsteady on his feet and with slurred speech 150 feet away from his crashed car on a motorway has escaped a drink-driving ban on appeal.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford found that Setanta Helferty's proximity to his car was not sufficient proof beyond reasonable doubt to say that he was driving his car.