Bessbrook woman drove after taking sleeping medication

NEWRY magistrates court has heard how a Bessbrook woman narrowly avoided crashing her car into a lamppost after taking a dose of prescribed sleeping medication.

Sinead Brennan (53) of Millvale Park Bessbrook faced a single charge of driving when unfit through drugs dating back to February 14 of this year.

It was on this date the court heard how police had reason to speak to the defendant following a report of a road traffic collision.

Police located Brennan driving her vehicle within the vicinity of the Camlough Road Roundabout before activating their lights and sirens signalling for her to stop.

However in spite of this she drove on mounting a curb at speed before driving over grass and nearly hitting a lampost.

When speaking to police Brennan appeared unsteady on her feet but was ascertained to not be under the influence of alcohol.

A blood test would reveal that at the time the offence took place she had legal prescription drugs in her system including zopiclone which as the court heard is a sleeping medication that is meant to be taken at night, not in the morning.

Addressing the court a defence barrister would state that Brennan was a 53-year-old woman who suffers from bipolar disorder but accepted that on this day her driving had been impaired due to the medication she had taken.

Disposing of the case by means of a 12 month disqualification from driving and a fine of £200 District Judge O'Hare would afford Brennan with one final piece of advice before she exited the dock.

"You can't take chances on prescribed medication."