An Post’s reputation for correctly delivering letters bearing incomplete or incorrect addresses was proven once more at Castlebar District Court last Wednesday, where it made the difference between a drink-driving case being struck out and successfully prosecuted.
Michelle Igoe (31) of 7 Bealach na Gaoithe, Galway Road, Tuam, Co Galway was charged with drink driving and driving with no insurance after being detected at a checkpoint at Castlemagarrett, Claremorris, on September 3 last.
She tested positive for drink driving, and a court summons was therefore issued. However, it was addressed to Ms Igoe at 7 Bealach na Gaoithe, Tuam Road, Galway City.
Judge Mary Devins expressed her amazement that the summons arrived at Ms Igoe’s address in Tuam. She added that if Ms Igoe had not turned up in court, the case would have been struck out due to poor service of the summons. However, because An Post had located Ms Igoe’s correct address and Ms Igoe had arrived in court, the case proceeded.
“I can only assume An Post knew there is no estate by that name in Galway (city),” Ms Igoe said when asked how the summons might have properly turned up in Tuam.
A clearly relieved prosecuting Inspector Gary Walsh stated ‘An Post do provide a fantastic service’.
Ms Igoe has previous convictions for no insurance and drink driving. Due to her previous, Judge Devins told her she could be facing a prison sentence, and she pushed the matter back to later in the day.
When the matter came up subsequently, Ms Igoe said that the incident had served as ‘a wake up call’ and that she has not drunk alcohol since.
She was given a suspended three-month prison term, fined a total of €1,000 and disqualified from driving for a total of six years.
