A former architect was spared a prison term yesterday for a second drink-driving offence in just over six months.
David Grant (54), of Haddington Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin, was given a suspended sentence after he admitted refusing to give a breath sample, altering his deceased father's driving licence to make it look like his own, giving a false name and address to gardaí, uninsured driving and not having a licence to drive.
Dublin District Court heard he had been banned from driving for two years last December for another drink-driving incident.
On June 8th Grant was stopped by Garda Christopher Fitzgerald when he drove his British-registered Mercedes four-wheel-drive vehicle the wrong way down the one-way Montague Street.
He initially gave the name Charles Grant with an address in Scotland. He also gave gardaí a British driving licence in this name which turned out to be that of his late father.
Gardaí spotted that the date of birth on the licence had been changed from 1933 to 1963.
He was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and brought to Pearse Street Garda station, where he refused to give a breath sample. He spent the night in custody until his true identity was established the following day.
Gardaí also discovered he was not insured to drive the vehicle, and that the British tax disc on it belonged to another car. The vehicle was seized, and Grant later had to pay more than €6,000 in vehicle registration tax to get it back.
Along with the conviction last December for drink-driving when he was banned for two years and fined €200, Grant had another drink-driving conviction on May 18th, 2000, when he was also banned for two years, given a community service order and ordered to pay compensation.
His solicitor, Cahir O'Higgins, said he had been highly successful in business, obtaining planning permissions for more than 600 homes in Dublin and employing a lot of people.
"His business collapsed, and this led to pressures and stresses and to this unacceptable behaviour," the solicitor said.
He said Grant was deeply sorry for what he had done, and was particularly disgusted at having used his father's driving licence. He had intended selling the car to help deal with his financial troubles, but foolishly decided to drive it that day.
The night in custody had "scared the hell out of him", and he was now taking steps to address his alcohol problem, the solicitor added.
Judge Bryan Smyth said he was prepared to give Grant one last chance.
He imposed a six-month jail sentence, suspended on condition that he does not commit any offence under the Road Traffic Act within two years.
He also banned him from driving for six years, and imposed fines totalling €2,950.