Drunk driver collided with other cars during ‘spree’ of offending in Louth

By Francis Carroll, The Drogheda Independent

A drunk driver who struck a number of vehicles in Drogheda, some of which had children inside, has received a four-year suspended sentence at Dundalk Circuit Court.

Raymond Skelly (35), Old Post Office Road, Lusk, Co. Dublin, pleaded guilty to charges of endangerment, dangerous driving and drunk driving on September 10, 2022, and to damaging a number of vehicles.

Judge Dara Hayes remarked that it was an appalling litany of driving, causing damage to cars of innocent members of the public.

The defendant crashed into a taxi on Shop Street resulting in a €1,000 repair bill and putting the taxi driver out of work.

He drove the wrong way at Sunday's Gate, collided with a car causing €2,000 damage before coming to the attention of gardaí at Trinity Street.

At 12.20pm he was spotted exiting Aldi carpark onto Cement Road. He returned to Trinity Street where traffic was heavy. He was speeding in the middle of the road, colliding with vehicles on either side and taking off wing mirrors.

One victim said she feared her baby would be killed from the impact. She screamed at Mr Skelly who told her to go away “in no uncertain terms”.

The woman sustained a whiplash injury, while more than €5,000 damage was caused to her car.

The defendant was insured, and following his arrest for drink driving provided a sample which showed an over the limit reading of 184mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

He was living out of his car at the time. He has previous convictions for driving and drug offences, but is now drug free. He suffered significant injuries in a 2014 road traffic collision.

Judge Dara Hayes said what occurred constituted a spree of offending in the middle of the afternoon when Mr Skelly was many times over the the drink drive limit.

He had not come to attention since and had taken steps in rehabilitation. He had turned his life around, according to the Probation Service.

The judge said the suspended sentence represented a significant opportunity.

The defendant was disqualified from driving for 5 years.