Gardaí breathalyse wheelchair user

A MAN in a motorised wheelchair is facing a possible drink-driving charge after his arrest on suspicion that he was over the limit.

Gardaí spotted the wheelchair-user driving in an erratic fashion in Cork city centre and pulled him over. Most motorised wheelchairs have a top speed of 6mph.

A garda spokesman confirmed the “highly unusual” incident happened over the last Bank Holiday weekend. The driver of the wheelchair was arrested and taken to a local garda station where he was breathalysed. A file is now being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Under the Road Traffic Acts 1961-1994, anybody in charge of a mechanically-propelled vehicle in a public place can be breath-tested by gardaí if it is suspected they have consumed excess alcohol.

A mechanically propelled vehicle covers not only cars but electric or motorised wheelchairs and ride-on lawnmowers.

It is believed to be one of the first times a wheelchair-using driver has been arrested in this country on suspicion of being over the legal limit. “It’s definitely the first time I have ever heard of such an incident,” a spokesman for the Irish Wheelchair Association said.

If convicted of the alleged offence the wheelchair user could face a ban from the road.

“This is an area which needs gentle consideration. It’s a person’s only method of transport. It’s essentially their legs,” the IWA spokesman said.

He added that because motorised wheelchair speeds were so slow they couldn’t be considered as dangerous as cars.