Cork motorist who pulled out in front of Garda car given driving ban

Court heard defendant, who has an alcohol addiction, 'broke out' and 'went back on it that week' but has since stopped drinking again

Judge said she had no option but to disqualify defendant from driving for three years. Picture: Dan Linehan

A drink-driver who pulled out in front of a Garda car has been disqualified from driving in the district court.

Sergeant Trish O’Sullivan told Bantry District Court a Garda patrol car was driving near Drimoleague, West Cork, on July 18, 2025.

At 8.15pm, the patrol car was heading in the direction of Bantry at Baurnahulla when a white Vauxhall Vivaro van pulled out across the road in front of them heading for the Skibbereen road. The van then struck the kerb on the opposite side of the road before straightening up.

The van was stopped and the driver — identified as Cathal Collins, aged 49, of Derreennaclough, Ballydehob — was observed as slurring his words and his eyes were glazed. He was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and failed an alcohol breath test at Bantry Garda Station, where his alcohol level was recorded as 73mg per 100ml of breath where the legal limit is 22mg.

The court was told Collins had two previous convictions for driving without insurance and one for failing to provide a sample in 2016.

Defence solicitor Flor Murphy said Collins was fully insured on this occasion. He said his client had an alcohol addiction and had not drunk alcohol for six years prior to the incident. The court heard Collins, who is a carpenter, was struggling financially at the time and was in the middle of renovating a house he planned to live in.

Mr Murphy said Collins “broke out” and “went back on it that week” but has since stopped drinking again and is attending support services.

Judge Joanne Carroll said it was “an unfortunate situation”, and Collins appeared to have a relapse at the time. She said she had no option but to disqualify him from driving for three years. 

The judge said because Collins lived in a remote rural location, the disqualification would have serious consequences for him and as he pleaded guilty and was cooperative she would strike out the additional charge of careless driving.

Collins was also admitted to a probation bond for 12 months on condition he attends addiction treatment services.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme