Mayo motorist found asleep at wheel is banned for four years

A Claremorris woman who was found asleep at the wheel after her car collided with a bench and wall has been disqualified from driving for four years after refusing to provide a sample to gardaí.

Castlebar District Court heard that Oksana Kolesnikova, of 15 Cluain Aoibhann, Claremorris, pleaded guilty to an offence under Section 12 relating to refusal to give a sample.

Court presenter Sergeant John O’Reilly told the court that on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at 6.59 p.m., gardaí received a report of a female asleep at the wheel following a collision with a bench and wall at An Clar, Claremorris.

When gardaí arrived at the scene, they found Kolesnikova to be extremely intoxicated. The court heard that she had no previous convictions.

Solicitor Gary Mulchrone said his client, aged 45, is originally from Latvia and has been living in Ireland for the past 11 years. He said she has been working in a factory in Ballyhaunis while residing in Claremorris.

The court heard that Kolesnikova is the sole breadwinner in her household and supports her 23-year-old son, who is in third-level education, her 74-year-old mother, for whom she acts as a carer, and a 13-year-old child.

Mr. Mulchrone said his client had been under considerable pressure at home due to her family responsibilities.

He said she had been offered an interpreter but believed she was not driving because the vehicle had come to a stop, describing it as a misunderstanding of the law.

He added that she pays €1,300 per month in rent and accepted the mandatory disqualification that would follow her guilty plea.

Judge Sandra Murphy said she had considered the defendant’s personal circumstances, noting she had come to no previous attention during her 11 years in the country.

Taking into account the guilty plea and mitigation offered, Judge Murphy convicted and fined Kolesnikova €250 and disqualified her from driving for four years.

* Funded under the Courts Reporting Scheme.