A female driver who crashed into a lamp post after attending a daytime work party pleaded guilty to a charge of drink driving.

Antonina Levchenko (46) of No 5 Scart Road, Bantry, was legally represented at Bantry District Court by solicitor Colette McCarthy.

Sgt Tom Mulcahy, said gardaí attended the single vehicle collision at Seafield at 3.30pm on November 2nd last.

Colette McCarthy said her client, who is Ukrainian, has been living in Ireland since the start of the war.

On this occasion, she said, Antonina Levchenko had consumed four Jägermeisters.

'She is not a drinker. She had been at a work do, and had a few drinks, but because her shoes were killing her she decided to drive home,' said the solicitor, who added: 'It's a decision she deeply regrets.'

Ms McCarthy impressed the earnestness of her client to Judge Joanne Carroll saying the accused had asked her if she could pay for the damage to the lamp post.

'She is also very grateful that this was a single vehicle collision and no one was injured,' said Ms McCarthy, who said her client found the gardaí, including the prosecuting officer Gda Joanne O'Mahony, to be very courteous throughout.

Judge Carroll disqualified the accused from driving for a period of two years, but did not impose any monetary penalty.