Pensioner almost fell over bridge when arrested for drink-driving

June 18, 2021

A drunken pensioner who crashed into roadworks had to be rescued by Gardai after he almost fell over a bridge and into a river.

Liam McCafferty appeared at Falcarragh District Court in Co Donegal charged with drink-driving on October 3rd, 2016.

The court was told that Gardai were called to an accident at Ballina Bridge on the N56 road between Gortahork and Falcarragh at 1.20am after a motorist had struck crash barriers.

An Opel Insignia car had blocked the road and a man was getting out of the car.

The driver told Gardai the accident had only happened five minutes earlier.

The driver, 72-year-old Liam McCafferty told Gardai he had been “silly” and had been drinking.

He went to sit on the wall beside the bridge but almost toppled backwards into the river but was caught by Gardai.

“As I turned around I saw him falling backwards over the bridge and Garda Gillsepe grabbed him before he fell over the wall of the bridge into the river,” said a Garda in evidence.

Mr McCafferty was taken to Milford Garda station where Sgt Sean McGrory said a breath test showed a reading of 50 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

Gardai said that Mr McCafferty, of Cluain Dara, Gortahork, was very apologetic and was dropped off by Gardai at a relative’s house later.

Judge Paul Kelly fined the accused €200 and disqualified him from driving for three years.

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