Courts / Dublin / Report

'Extremely dangerous': banned, over the limit driver found asleep at wheel avoids jail

Date
2025-06-30

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Sumod George Sam, 45, pleaded guilty at Tallaght District Court to being in charge of a vehicle while exceeding the legal breath alcohol limit. The court heard that on August 9, 2023, Garda Dylan O'Malley found Sam asleep at the wheel of a white Honda Insight on Greenhills Road, Dublin 12, with the engine running and an empty vodka bottle in the passenger seat. A subsequent breath analysis recorded 99 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath. Sam, who resides in Terenure, Dublin 6, had a previous drink-driving conviction and was already serving a three-year disqualification imposed in May 2024. Defence counsel Lauren Flanagan BL described the incident as an act of "stupidity" while Sam was "partying with friends," noting his remorse and willingness to undertake a driver awareness course. Judge Patricia McNamara described the alcohol level as "extremely dangerous." The court convicted Sam and imposed a five-year driving disqualification, effectively extending his existing ban by three years. Additionally, a four-month prison sentence was imposed, suspended for two years on Sam's own bond of €400. Conditions require him not to drive or be in control of a vehicle and to remain of sober habits. Sam had already surrendered his licence to Blanchardstown Garda Station.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Extremely dangerous': banned, over the limit driver found asleep at wheel avoids jail. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

August 9, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
May 2024 Hearing Or Sentence
February 2027 Hearing Or Sentence
2025-06-30 Publication

Case subjects

Sumod George Sam

Defendant

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: His defence counsel, Lauren Flanagan BL, told the court that Sam was deeply remorseful, had not come to garda attention since and had been "partying with friends" at the time – describing the incident as an act of "stupidity." She said her client, a father of two who previously worked in IT but is currently unemployed, was willing to undertake a driver awareness course and she asked the court not to impose a custodial sentence. She also imposed a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years on Sam's own bond of €400, with conditions that he not drive or be in control of a vehicle and that he remain of sober habits.