Islington’s Katherine Murphy drunk drove with young son in car before crashing into fence post
A Newcastle mum “has lost a lot of respect for herself” after crashing into a fence post drunk, while her young son was in the vehicle. Now she has been sentenced in court.
Newcastle
Don't miss out on the headlines from Newcastle. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Newcastle mum who got behind the wheel drunk, while her young son was in the car, was “embarrassed” and “ashamed” at her actions, a court has heard.
Katherine Murphy, 44, from Islington was more than four times the legal limit when she reversed across Fern St, at Islington into a driveway on January 23 before crashing into a fence post.
Witnesses told police an intoxicated woman had attempted to drive away after the collision before ambulance officers arrived to assist her.
Court documents detailed that when police arrived, Ms Murphy was staggering, slurring her speech, had glassy eyes and when asked if she had her license, she became belligerent and refused to divulge any information.
It’s then the 44-year-old got back into the driver’s seat and tried to start the vehicle before police removed her and her keys. She returned a positive reading of 0.222 before being arrested and charged with high-range PCA.
The boy, 4, had a small lump and laceration to his forehead before being treated by paramedics and was taken away by Ms Murphy’s parents.
Police facts stated she had admitted to consuming heaps of drinks but refused to tell police what type of alcohol.
At Newcastle Local Court on Thursday, Ms Murphy’s lawyer Drew Hamilton said his client was a “highly educated and sophisticated person” and was coming to the court for the first time.
He noted the injury to the child was actually done at childcare that day and said Ms Murphy had gone to exhaustive efforts since the crash and showed genuine remorse for her actions.
“She has done 90 AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings in 90 days,” Mr Hamilton said.
“She has lost a lot of respect for herself and then had to communicate this to her family. Her report reflects shame and embarrassment.
“At her best this is not Ms Murphy, she is a loving member of her family.
“She has learnt a valuable lesson and given the current pandemic, not having a license, with two small children, this will be onerous.”
Magistrate Robert Stone said Ms Murphy was clearly grossly affected by alcohol, which put herself and members of the community in danger, but acknowledged her willingness to rehabilitate.
“I accept it is a first offensive, very good record and you’ve got some insight into the problem and willing to do something about it,” Magistrate Stone said.
Ms Murphy was given a 12 month intensive corrections order (ICO) where she must abstain from drinking alcohol, fined $1000, disqualified from driving for six months and ordered to get an interlock for a 24 month period.