Woman who drove into Kildare canal with her passenger friend had been drinking

A woman, who had her friend with her in the car, drove into the canal after drinking alcohol, Naas District Court.

Rebecca Fox, 26, whose address was given as 4 Ashbrook, Derrinturn, Carbury, was prosecuted at the court.

Sgt Dave Hanrahan told the court the  car went into the canal at Killina Lower, Carbury, on January 7, 2020.

He said the defendant had left the pub to go to a friend’s house and both “had to exit the vehicle.”

He added the defendant had no previous convictions.

The court was told that the defendant has a child and she also had a problem with alcohol, but not now and she came to court  with €200.

The court heard the defendant is “in a different place now” and her friend was not injured.

“You're lucky to be alive (and) well done for doing something about alcohol,'' Judge Michele Finan said.

The judge also asked if the defendant had an understanding of the “horror she put her friend through.” 

The judge also noted that the emergency services would have had to respond to the incident.

The defendant was disqualified from driving for three years for driving with excess alcohol.

The woman was also concurrently disqualified for two years for dangerous driving, She was further prosecuted for no insurance and no licence. Fines totalling €450 were also imposed.

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