Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 2786Drink driving · Co. Kerry · 4 Dec 2024

Motorist charged with drink driving on N22 near Fossa, Kerry

A motorist was found asleep at the wheel of a car on the hard shoulder of the N22 near Fossa in Killarney, Kerry, on Wednesday afternoon, 4 December 2024, with a large bottle of vodka found on the person. The car had not been pulled into a lay-by or a safe location. The driver, a full licence holder, tested more than five times over the legal limit. The motorist was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and conveyed to a Garda station in Kerry. The motorist has been charged and is due to appear before Killarney District Court at a later date.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested7 Dec
  3. Charged6 Dec
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The driver was found asleep at the wheel of a car on the hard shoulder, with a large bottle of vodka found on the person.
  • The car had not been pulled into a lay-by or a safe location.
  • The driver, a full licence holder, tested more than five times over the legal limit.
Where
The incident occurred on the N22 near Fossa in Killarney, Kerry.
When
The incident took place on Wednesday afternoon, 4 December 2024.
Cause
The driver fell asleep at the wheel.
Investigation
The driver was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and conveyed to a Garda station in Kerry.
Charges
The motorist has been charged and is due to appear before Killarney District Court at a later date.
Other details
  • The maximum penalty for drink driving is a fine of €5,000 or six months in prison or both.
  • The incident occurred during the Christmas and New Year Road Safety Operation in Kerry, which ran from 29 November 2024 to 6 January 2025.
19 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe driver was found asleep at the wheel of a car on the hard shoulder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA large bottle of vodka was found on the person in the car. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe car was not pulled into a lay-by or somewhere safe. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe driver tested more than five times over the legal limit. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe driver was a full licence holder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe incident occurred on the N22 near Fossa in Killarney. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on Wednesday afternoon, 4 December 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe driver was reported to be five times over the limit. (extra.ie)
  • causeThe driver fell asleep at the wheel. (extra.ie)
  • investigationThe driver was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and conveyed to a Garda Station in Kerry. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí arrested the driver. (extra.ie)
  • chargeThe motorist has been charged and will appear before Killarney District Court at a later date. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe maximum penalty for drink driving is a fine of €5,000 or six months in prison or both. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe Christmas and New Year Road Safety Operation in Kerry began on Friday 29 November and will continue until Monday 6 January 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherDuring the first week of the operation, Gardaí carried out over 1,300 checkpoints. (irishmirror.ie)
  • other134 people were arrested for driving under the influence of an intoxicant during the first week. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherOver 2,300 drivers were detected for speeding offences during the first week. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherApproximately 430 vehicles were seized for a range of offences under the Road Traffic Act, 1961. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherApproximately 200 Fixed Charge Notices were issued for using a mobile phone while driving. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 7 Dec2024
    Arrestedextra.ie, its first report
    Gardaí nab driver five times over the limit after falling asleep at the wheel

    The article body is unusable template code with no location, date, or other details. The facts below come only from the headline. The publication date is 2024-12-07.

    suspect
  2. 6 Dec2024
    Chargedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Gardai nab motorist found asleep at the wheel while five times over limit

    First report of the incident; includes details of the Christmas and New Year Road Safety Operation in Kerry and first-week enforcement statistics.

    suspect