Drunk driver who crashed in car with no insurance gets three-year ban

The Cork man was given a three-month postponement of the commencement of his disqualification

The court heard that he had taken the uninsured vehicle and had gone to the pub. File photo

A drunk driver who crashed a Toyota Landcruiser on a rural road did not have valid insurance at the time of the accident, a district court in Cork has heard.

Denis O’Regan, aged 49 of Dromacullen, Coachford, Co. Cork, pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated, careless driving and driving without insurance at Macroom District Court.

Sergeant Trish O’Sullivan said a single-vehicle road traffic accident occurred at Knockaneowen, Coachford on March 1, 2025.

When gardaí arrived on the scene at 6.30pm they found a grey Toyota Landcruiser across the middle of the road. The left front tyre and left front bumper were damaged and Denis O’Regan was sitting in the driver’s seat trying to turn the vehicle.

O’Regan was arrested and taken to Macroom Garda Station, where an alcohol breath test recorded an alcohol level of 80mg per 100ml where the legal limit is 22mg. 

The court was told that O’Regan was fully co-operative and made admissions. The court heard that he had taken the uninsured vehicle and had gone to the pub.

Defence solicitor Patrick Goold said  O’Regan was dealing with depression at the time due to problems with his farm but was not an alcoholic. 

The court heard that since a diabetes diagnosis, O’Regan was also no longer drinking alcohol and looked after his 91-year-old mother and that he was looking for a three-month postponement of the commencement of his disqualification.

Judge Joanne Carroll said it was “a very unfortunate situation” and noted that O’Regan had no previous convictions and accepted that he was dealing with a medical situation and depression at the time of the incident and a “combination of matters” had contributed to the situation.

For driving while intoxicated O’Regan was disqualified from driving for three years effective from January 15, 2026. For driving without insurance he was convicted and fined €300 with four months to pay and the careless driving and failure to produce charges were struck out.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.