Troy and Danielle O’Neill cop hefty fines after drunken night

A husband and wife’s night out at an adults-only circus quickly soured when they ignored pleas of witnesses and smashed into a wall near a Sunshine Coast shopping centre.

Police were urgently called to a Sunshine Coast shopping centre car park when a husband and wife drunkenly smashed into a wall after a night out at an adults-only circus.

Troy and Danielle O’Neill lost their licences and coped hefty fines in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Wednesday after they were found drunk behind the wheel on February 25, 2022.

Mr O’Neill pleaded guilty to being under the influence while in charge of a car while his wife entered a guilty plea for driving while under the influence.

Police prosecutor Nick Nitschke told the court worried witnesses, who called for urgent police assistance, told police Mrs O’Neill was visibly drunk when she tried to leave the Coles Sippy Downs car park.

“Her husband was in the passenger seat when … (O’Neill) drove directly out of the car park and straight into a solid wall smashing the back glass panel,” Sergeant Nitschke said.

He said the 49-year-old woman drove around the carpark while trying to leave before she swapped seats with her husband.

The court heard police found (Mr) O’Neill, 48, asleep in the driver's seat when they arrived.

Sergeant Nitschke said witnesses had seen the husband and wife drink wine and tried to stop them from getting behind the wheel.

He said (Mrs) O’Neill blew a reading of 0.201 while her husband recorded a reading of 0.256.

Troy and Danielle O’Neill lost their licences and coped hefty fines in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Picture: Sunshine Coast Daily.

The pair’s solicitor Bill Potts said they had enjoyed a tremendous night at the circus show Infamous when they made the “foolish” decision to drive.

“They drank far too much,” he said.

Mr Potts said the O’Neills had planned on catching an Uber home but couldn’t secure a ride.

He said as an electrician in the mines not having a licence would have a devastating impact on (Mr) O’Neill’s ability to earn an income.

Mr Potts said (Mrs) O’Neill was able to work from home in her role at National Parks but will still rely on friends and family to get around.

He said the pair had a limited and dated history.

Both entered an early plea of guilty, took part in a traffic offender program and had changed their behaviours.

Magistrate Rod Madsen considered the couple’s personal circumstances, pleas of guilty and participation in a rehabilitation course.

Mr Madsen said the punishment given to the pair had to deter them and the community from drink driving.

(Mr) O’Neill was fined $2000 and disqualified from driving for nine months.

(Mrs) O’Neill was fined $1200 and had her licence disqualified for 12 months.

Both had convictions recorded.