Garda Northwest Regional HQ in Renmore.
A “very foolish” Kinvara man arrested on suspicion of drink driving dipped his urine sample container into the water in a toilet at a Garda station when trying to frustrate the drink-driving prosecution, a court has heard.
At Gort District Court, Judge Adrian Harris has imposed a four year driving ban on Anthony Simpson (57) of Mountscribe, Kinvara, Co Galway for refusing to provide a blood or urine sample to a designated nurse to test for alcohol levels on February 23rd 2025 at the Garda Northwest Regional HQ in Galway.
In court, Sgt Claire Heneghan said that Mr Simpson was arrested at Crushoa, Kinvara on suspicion of drink driving after he was involved in a road traffic accident with a jeep on February 22nd 2025.
Sgt Heneghan said that subsequently at Garda Northwest Regional HQ on February 23rd, Mr Simpson was given the option of providing a urine or blood sample to test for alcohol levels.
She said that Mr Simpson opted to provide a sample of his urine and whilst in the bathroom at the Garda station he lowered his urine sample jug into the toilet bowl in order to fill it with water in an act to frustrate the prosecution.
Mr Simpson pleaded guilty to a charge of frustrating a drink driving prosecution under the Road Traffic Act.
Mr Simpson also pleaded guilty to refusing to provide a blood or urine sample to a designated nurse at the Garda station on the same date for alcohol and Judge Harris imposed a four year driving ban and a fine of €500 for that offence under Section 12 of the Road Traffic Act.
Judge Harris also imposed a two year driving ban and imposed a fine of €750 on Mr Simpson for dangerous driving at Crushoa, Kinvara on February 22nd 2025.
In relation to the dangerous driving offence, Sgt Heneghan told the court that the driver of the jeep told Gardaí that Mr Simpson was driving on the wrong side of the road and caused the driver to go up onto the ditch to avoid impact.
She said that Mr Simpson drove straight at the injured party and collided with the front of the jeep.
Judge Harris said that he would take the offence concerning dipping the urine sample container into water in the toilet bowl into account.
Mr Simspon has no previous convictions under the Road Traffic Act and solicitor, Olivia Lynch for Mr Simpson said that what Mr Simpson did on the night at the Garda station was “very foolish”.
Ms Lynch said that if Mr Simpson did provide a sample he might be in a position before the court.
She said that Mr Simpson lost his job as a result of the crash. She said that he had only recently moved into the area before the crash.
She said that it was a minor enough collision where the driver of the jeep did not suffer any injuries and that Mr Simpson’s car has been off the road since.
