Bare-chested motorist was almost four-times drink-drive limit

A bare-chested man who drew the attention of Gardai when mounting a footpath was found to be almost four times over the legal drink-drive limit.

Ionut Girip has been disqualified for three years after an incident at Sallaghraine, Letterkenny on October 10, 2021.

Garda Barbara Doherty told Letterkenny District Court that she was on patrol at around 1am when she observed a white Peugeot Partner traveling towards her.

The male driver was not wearing a t-shirt and had no seatbelt on. Garda Doherty observed the van mounting the footpath with its front and rear passenger-side wheels.

Garda Doherty stopped the vehicle and upon speaking to Girip she detected a strong smell of alcohol, noticed his eyes were glazed and his speech was slurred.

Girip, a Romanian national, had to be assisted in exiting the vehicle to be taken to the Garda patrol vehicle.

Girip was taken to Letterkenny Garda Station and given a breath test in the presence of a Romanian translator.

A breath test showed 84 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath - 3.8 times the legal limit.

Solicitor for Girip, Mr Patsy Gallagher, said his client planned to return to Romania.

Judge Vincent Deane disqualified Girip for three years and fined him €100, giving six months to pay.