An Irish national will likely be deported after being caught drink-driving in Albury.
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Darragh Noel Duggan, 27, had been on the Border for only a week when he was arrested by Albury police about 2am on Tuesday.
The Honda Accord he was driving had gone straight over the roundabout intersection of Borella Road and Schubach Street, ploughing through a fence and into a safety barrier.
A passenger in the car, who had come along for a trip to McDonald’s, was uninjured.
Duggan was then taken to Albury police station, where he returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.170.
He told officers he had not had anything to drink since midday the previous day, during a session where he consumed four litres of wine along with beer and vodka.
He was charged with high-range drink-driving and driving without ever been licensed.
The Albury Local Court heard Duggan’s visa had expired in August 2016 and it was recommended he be released into the custody of the Department of Immigration.
Solicitor Elizabeth Bushby said he arrived in Australia the previous August, undertaking seasonal work in Sydney and Griffith.
“He’s a qualified teacher and has worked as a trainee teacher in Spain,” she said.
“He was planning on going back in April with a partner who is in Melbourne.
“The offence is aggravated by the fact he had a passenger in the car.
“He has no visa, so it will be a matter for the Department of Immigration.”
Magistrate Greg Grogin said Duggan’s offence was made worse by his criminal history, which included stalking and shoplifting.
“I think it would be a good thing for NSW (that you be deported),” he said.
“How do you be in a country for such a short period of time and rack up so many offences?
“He’s going to walk out of here with nothing – it’s a shame I can’t jail you on the first offence.”
Mr Grogin fined Duggan $1500 and disqualified him from driving for three years. He also fined Duggan $500 for driving without ever having a license.
“I’ll take into account the plea of guilty and that he will be released into the custody of the Department of Immigration,” he said.
A Department of Immigration and Border Protection spokeswoman said the department was aware of the case. “While we can’t comment on specific cases, people whose visas have expired are expected to depart Australia,” she said.
