A Canadian artist convinced a judge that she was sleeping the night in her car with a beau she met at the Clifden Arts Festival, rather than about to drive home when caught with the engine running.
A native of Quebec, Delphine Schofield Veronneau was doing a home exchange at Oyster Cove, Kilkerrin, Carna, while living as an artist in residence.
On patrol after 3am on September 24 was Sergeant Edward Cronin, who told Clifden District Court that when he drove into the public carpark in Clifden he spotted the lights shining on the first car he saw.
There was a woman in the driver’s seat with her two hands placed on the steering wheel, with the keys in the ignition, engine running and the fan turned on. There was a man in the passenger seat and both were sitting upright.
He asked the 33-year-old if she had consumed alcohol and she replied that she had three pints. He brought her to Clifden Garda Station on suspicion of being drunk in charge. She later gave a reading of 46mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath – more than double the legal limit.
Sergeant Cronin said he had done a sweep of the carpark just a little earlier and there was nobody occupying any of the six cars.
Schofield Veronneau began her evidence with a direct plea to Judge Mary Fahy. “I would never drink and drive. I just wouldn’t do it.”
She went on to recall that she was in town to attend the Clifden Arts Festival and intended to stay with a friend who worked in Mullarkey’s Pub after enjoying a few drinks.
She was going to walk to that friend’s place but she then met a man. She decided to sleep instead in her car where her new friend joined her.
There they passed an hour or so.
“I was sick at one stage…we kissed…at some stage I decided to turn on the car for the heat. I had no idea it was illegal. The second I turned on the car the police arrived. There was no intention except heating the car…in no second that night did I intend to drive the car,” she told the court.
She was asked by the prosecutor why she cleared the screen with the fan or had put on the lights if she did not intend to drive.
Schofield Veronneau replied that it was automatic in the car she was driving for the fan and lights to be switched on once the key was turned.
Judge Fahy asked if she really intended to sleep in a car all night.
She replied that she did. After being processed in the Garda station she had returned to her car to sleep for the rest of the night.
“Where did this male friend go?” asked Judge Fahy. “I don’t know,” replied the defendant.
“He was no gentleman,” the District Judge retorted.
Judge Fahy said she was going to dismiss the charge of being drunk in charge.
“I’m sort of suspicious but at the same time I have a doubt. She has raised doubts in my mind that she’s not somebody who foolishly drinks and drives.”`
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