An artist was disqualified from driving for a period of three years after he was caught driving with excess alcohol.

Judge Joanne Carroll at Bantry District Court agreed to postpone the driving ban until February 1st next to allow the accused, Robert Sobura (60) of Maughanaclea, Kealkil, an opportunity to get his affairs in order.

Defence solicitor, Flor Murphy said his client, who is from Poland, had come into the court ‘with his hands up’ because he opened and consumed most of a bottle of wine while having a long and involved phone conversation with his daughter in Berlin.

When the conversation was finished, Mr Murphy said his client made the mistake of driving to the local shop at about 8pm on the night of October 29th 2024 to buy meat for his dinner.

Sgt Trish O’Sullivan said the accused was involved in a single vehicle collision. She said his vehicle overturned and the emergency services were called because he was unable to free himself from the vehicle.

The accused, who had a suspected broken collar bone, was taken to Cork University Hospital, where members of An Garda Siochana took a blood sample that showed the accused was over the limit.

In mitigation, Mr Murphy said his client has no previous convictions and it was at a bend in the road that he lost control of his car.

‘He says he will take his punishment,’ said Mr Murphy after Judge Carroll disqualified his client from driving for three years on the drunk driving charge; and fined him €150 for careless driving.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.