A WEXFORD man who ended up in Donegal when driving while intoxicated has been sentenced to eight months imprisonment and disqualified from driving for 10 years.

Martin O’Brien,who had 95 previous convictions, appeared at Monday’s sitting of Letterkenny District Court facing a number of charges including drunk driving and taking possession of a vehicle without the owner’s consent.

The defendant, with an address at The Elms, Park Avenue, Gorey, was in custody and was arrested on the morning of his appearance on a further charge but made no reply.

Detailing evidence in the case, Sergeant Jim Collins stated that Gardai had been alerted anonymously by a member of the public on the date of the offence, June 24 last. O’Brien had been observed in a silver Vauxhall car being “driven all over the road” at Ballyraine, Letterkenny.

Gardai spoke to the driver who appeared to be intoxicated. When subsequently tested he was found to have a reading of 124 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.

Apart from the drunk driving charge, O’Brien was also charged with driving a mechanically propelled vehicle without the consent of the owner and with driving without insurance.

Sergeant Jim Collins told the court the defendant had a total of 95 previous convictions for which he had received prison sentences on charges of dangerous driving and a five year disqualification.

Defending solicitor, Robert Ryan indicated that his client had a long addition to heroin and cocaine and alcohol had replaced his significant addiction problems.

The solicitor said that the defendant had endured a number of tragedies in his life with his father having taken his own life.

“He is trying to get back on the straight and narrow,” said Mr Ryan.

In respect of the charges, his client had “little or no memory” as he had been drinking and was intoxicated at the time.

Judge Eiteain Cunningham sentenced the defendant to a total of eight months imprisonment on the respective charges of driving while intoxicated and taking possession of a mechanically propelled vehicle without the owner’s consent. Other matters were taken into consideration.

O’Brien was also disqualified from driving for a period of ten years.

He was given credit for the time he has spent in custody which dates back to June 26.