Man spared jail after driving at 152km/h through Wicklow while over drink limit
The Wicklow PeopleA Georgian national living in homeless accommodation in Wicklow has avoided jail after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and driving while intoxicated following an incident on the N11 late last year.
Gagi Garshaulashvili (31), with an address at a homeless accommodation in Wicklow, pleaded guilty at Bray District Court to one count of dangerous driving and a further charge of driving while intoxicated. Both offences arose from the same incident.
The court heard that on December 29, 2024, gardaí observed a black BMW travelling at 152 km/h in an 80 km/h zone on the N11 at Kilmacanogue. The vehicle was stopped, and gardaí detected a strong smell of alcohol from the driver. Garshaulashvili was arrested and brought to Bray Garda Station, where a breath sample showed he was over the legal alcohol limit.
It was also established that the vehicle had no valid NCT and that Mr Garshaulashvili was driving on an invalid licence.
Solicitor for the defence, Brendan Maloney, told the court that his client has been living in Ireland for the past three years and has a child in the jurisdiction.
The court was informed that Mr Garshaulashvili is currently on social welfare but had previously worked part-time as a delivery driver. Mr Maloney said his client had been living in shared accommodation at the time of the incident and had been drinking because “he was feeling mentally low”.
“My client regrets consuming alcohol and driving,” Mr Maloney said.
Judge David Kennedy said: “You are extremely lucky you pleaded guilty.”
He added: “Had he not done so, he would likely have faced a custodial sentence.”
Judge Kennedy sentenced Mr Garshaulashvili to six months imprisonment for dangerous driving, suspended in full, and imposed a €1,000 fine along with a two-year driving ban. The judge also imposed the same suspended sentence for the charge of driving while intoxicated along with a further two-year driving ban.