Woman who collided with parked car in Mayo supermarket carpark suspended from driving for three years

A WOMAN who failed a breathalyser test after she collided with a car parked at SuperValu car park in Castlebar has been fined €350 and handed a mandatory three-year driving ban at Castlebar District Court.

The incident involving the defendant, Andrea Durkan, Carrowmore, Manulla, was witnessed by a man who was driving behind the defendant’s car when the collision took place on the afternoon of March 29, 2025, at around 2.20 in the afternoon.

A legal point raised by defending solicitor Mr. Gary Mulchone, who sought a dismissal of the charge due to a break in the chain of evidence given by Garda Ciara Brennan, who was the arresting officer on the afternoon in question, was rejected by Judge Sandra Murphy.

Judge Murphy said no evidence had been produced in court which suggested any break in the chain of the evidence given by Garda Brennan from once she arrested and charged the defendant.

Garda Inspector Thomasina McHale opened the State’s case by calling an independent witness, who had seen the incident which resulted in the defendant being arrested on suspicion of drink driving.

Eoin Holmes told the court he was driving into the car park at SuperValu in Castlebar when he noticed the car in front of him was driving slowly.

As he continued to drive behind the car he noticed the driver seemed to swerve a little and collided with a parked car.

“The driver of the car was a lady whom I tried to alert her over what had occurred but she continued on driving,” said the witness.

He added: “She continued on, so I pulled my car in front of her which prevented her from driving any further.”

The witness also produced photographs in court of the defendant’s car and number plate. He said there was minimal damage done to the car that was parked but it did collide with the wheel of the parked car which was protruding and caused the most damage.

Mr. Holmes said the driver had got out of her car at this stage and he phoned the gardaí notifying them of the incident.

Garda Ciara Brennan arrived on the scene at 3.05 p.m., which was about five to ten minutes after receiving the call.

“I asked her for her driving licence, but I had to assist her in getting it from her purse,” said Garda Brennan.

It was while helping her to produce her driving licence that Garda Brennan got a strong smell of alcohol from the lady who was driving the car.

“I asked her if she had alcohol taken but she failed to reply,” said Garda Brennan.

A breathalyser test carried out by Garda Brennan on the defendant indicated a failure which resulted in the defendant being taken to Castlebar Garda Station where she underwent an evidenzer test which indicated a concentration of 116 mgs. of alcohol per 100 mls. of breath.

In mitigation, Mr. Mulchrone said his client is a married woman with one child and had never been in court before.

He added that since the incident she had attended a rehabilitation programme in relation to her alcohol issues. A letter was handed to the court indicating that the defendant was continuing to fully engage in an aftercare programme.

Judge Murphy commended the defendant on the steps she has taken to overcome her problem.

“You are to be commended as you have taken the hard steps to deal with it,” said Judge Murphy, who imposed a fine of €350 and a mandatory three-year driving ban.

* Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.