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'You're fortunate to be alive,' judge tells woman after car found upside down in drink-driving crash

Summary

Lisa Clarke, 51, pleaded guilty at Tallaght District Court for driving with excess alcohol after her white Nissan Juke overturned near a childcare centre on Ballymount Road on 11 April. Gardaí found her beside the car, smelling strongly of alcohol, with a blood alcohol concentration of 155 mg per 100 ml, more than three times the legal limit. She is a healthcare assistant and carer, with no prior convictions, who said she had been coping with a marital breakdown and mental health struggles. Judge Patricia McNamara told Clarke she was "very fortunate" to have avoided serious injury or death, questioned whether she had an alcohol problem, and directed her to obtain a medical report and urine analysis to prove she no longer drinks. The judge noted a minimum three‑year disqualification and adjourned the case to 12 December for finalisation.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'You're fortunate to be alive,' judge tells woman after car found upside down in drink-driving crash. Charges or matters: driving with excess alcohol at Ballymount Road, Tallaght, on 11 April last. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• 11 April Hearing Or Sentence
• 12 December Adjournment
• 2025-11-05 Publication

Why: She told Judge Patricia McNamara she had been going through a difficult time because of a marital breakdown and was struggling with her mental health. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

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Read the original CNI report