"One of the worst cases I've ever seen"- Judge
A man has been sentenced to eight months in prison and disqualified from driving for 15 years in what a judge described as one of the worst cases he had ever seen.
At yesterday's sitting of Donegal District Court details were heard how Bogdan Michalkiawicz, a Polish national, with an address at Fairleigh House, Letterkenny was found to be almost four times over the legal limit after he was stopped by gardai.
During the hearing, Judge Kevin Kilraine said it was a case, not so much of how much alcohol the defendant had in his blood - but how much blood was in his alcohol. The court also heard how how Michalkiawicz had been serving a ten year driving ban at the time of the offence.
Michalkiawicz was stopped at Oliver Plunkett Road, Letterkenny on December 20th last and was given bail to appear at Letterkenny District
Court on January 18th last, but failed to so.
Defending solicitor, James Corbett said there might be confusion as to whether his client "understood he had to be in court". Mr. Corbett said there was an ongoing translation problem.
Garda John F. Munroe said Michalkiawicz had a number of previous convictions and was disqualified from driving for ten years at a sitting of Letterkenny Court on July 20th last.
District Court Judge Kevin Kilraine said it was a case "of not so much how much alcohol he had in his blood but rather how much blood he had in his alcohol." He added "this was one of the worst cases I have seen."
Mr Corbett said his client had a medical problem. Judge Kilrane said however, this was not a reason for his client to anaesthetise himself with alcohol. He said, "There is only one way to cure him and that is to lock him up. I know it is tough but I see no other option."
For drink driving Michalkiawicz was sentenced to four months in jail and disqualified from driving for 15 years. He was also sentenced to four consequetive months in prison and disqualifed from driving for the same period of time for driving with no insurance
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Weather for Donegal
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North east
