Serial drink driver faces jail for taking girlfriend shopping

Andrew Phelan

A YOUNG man caught drunk driving for the third time, while under a nine-year ban, had "completely disregarded the law" to bring his girlfriend on a shopping trip.

A court heard Scott Dempsey (23) was still over the limit after drinking the night before when caught behind the wheel in south Dublin. He explained to a judge that he decided to do so because his girlfriend "didn't like driving into town".

Judge Ann Watkin told him he could have killed someone and that he was facing a jail sentence. Dempsey, of Lynnfield House, Rathroane, Enfield, Co Meath pleaded guilty to drunk driving at St John's Road West, Dublin 8 on October 18, 2010. He also admitted driving without insurance or a licence in the same incident.

Dublin District Court heard that as well as drunk driving, he had previous convictions for dangerous driving and hit and run. Dempsey had been drinking the night before into the early morning and was still drunk when he decided to drive.

He was stopped by gardai at 9.46am. The defendant had a drink problem which had gone "out of control" after the death of his mother. "He must know he's facing a jail sentence, he seems to think a disqualification means nothing," Judge Watkin said. "I'm sorry for what I did," the accused said.

Judge Watkin replied: "You couldn't care less, you could have killed somebody on the road for the third time. You showed blatant disregard for other people and for a court order." Dempsey said his girlfriend was pregnant and he did not intend drinking again.

Judge Watkin adjourned the case for a probation report, but added: "That doesn't mean you are not going to jail."

hnews@herald.ie