She was driving on the wrong side of the road at 4 am.
A mother, who was caught drink-driving with her kids in the car, may have child neglect charges dropped.
However, she will have to engage with the Probation Service if the charges are dismissed.
Gardaí caught the woman driving home from a party in September 2019. She was driving on the wrong side of the road.
Her two children were in the back of the car.
The mum explained that it was her “first time out in years, literally” but she now knows she was wrong.
The mum-of-two drove home from a friend’s party after one of her children became unsettled.
She attempted to get a taxi but then realised she had no money.
She also couldn’t ask her friends because they were reportedly asleep.
The 34-year-old decided to get into her car and drive home, even though she had been drinking alcohol at the party.
She claims she knows it was the wrong thing to do and deeply regrets her actions.
Tusla launched an investigation into the mum shortly after her arrest. Gardaí told Tusla that her 4 and 6-year-old were visibly shaken and upset when they found them in the car.
Garda Lee Kelly said the mum yelled at them and said “this is your f***ing fault”.
However, Tusla found no other evidence of child neglect.
The woman is training to become a palliative carer and fears the child neglect charges will prevent her from finding work.
She pleaded guilty to two charges of child neglect. She has also pleaded guilty to refusing to do a breathalyser test.
The mum also has two previous convictions for public order offences.
Judge Greally believes this was an isolated incident. She has banned the woman from driving for 4 years.
She will also be fined €100 and faces a six-month sentence.
