A garda described as a "top detective" had around six pints in a Dublin pub before taking an official garda vehicle from his station and driving it onto the M50, where he was involved in a crash.
Dublin District Court has been told that the car driven by Detective Garda Kevin Keys was involved in a collision on the motorway on 6 February 2010.
Detective Garda Keys, who is attached to Mountjoy Garda Station, says he drank pints of lager shandy and had a meal, as well as pints of water and coffee, while watching a rugby match that afternoon.
He has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving and the unauthorised taking of an unmarked garda car.
The court was told he was on his way to serve a witness summons for a forthcoming trial when the collision occurred.
Garda Keys' colleague, Sergeant Mike Smith, gave evidence that he had gone to a pub with Garda Keys at about 1.45pm on 6 February to watch Ireland play Italy in rugby with two other colleagues.
Garda Keys was rostered on duty until 5pm that afternoon.
Sergeant Smith told the court that he thought Garda Keys had about six pints of lager, as well as a meal, during the five hours or so they were in the pub.
It was put to him by lawyers for Garda Keys that Garda Keys in fact drank four or five pints of lager shandy, as well as pints of water and coffee.
Sergeant Smith said he had no reason to disbelieve that, as he was a smoker and had been in and out of the pub during the afternoon.
The court was told that Detective Garda Keys told investigators from the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission that he felt okay to drive afterwards.
Sergeant Smith said there were three or four vehicles at Mountjoy Garda Station for the use of detectives there.
He said the process for taking a vehicle was pretty informal. If you had a job to do, and a car was available, you could take it, he said.
The court was told that after this incident, a system was put in place to record the taking of vehicles in and out of the garda station.
Garda Keys was described as a "top detective", an energetic and enthusiastic member of a very successful detective unit based at Mountjoy Garda Station.
Garda had unblemished disciplinary record
He has 18 to 20 years in the force and has an unblemished disciplinary record, the court heard.
The court heard Garda Keys has admitted losing control of the unmarked Ford Mondeo he was driving at the junction to Tallaght off the M50 motorway.
His car travelled across the motorway and hit a 4x4 vehicle being driven by Gareth Wooster.
Mr Wooster told the court it appeared to him that the driver of the Mondeo attempted to leave the motorway at the junction but then decided to come back on the M50.
He said he saw the back of the Mondeo wobbling and it then travelled sideways across three lanes of the motorway, turned around and hit his vehicle. He said it hit the driver's side of his vehicle.
Mr Wooster said he got out to check the driver and passenger of the Mondeo. He said the driver was initially slumped across the lap of the passenger, looked dazed and did not speak.
He said the passenger looked relaxed as if this was something that happened every day. Mr Wooster said neither man spoke to him and he found this strange.
Witnesses smelled alcohol in garda car
Several witnesses gave evidence that they had smelled alcohol in the car driven by the gardaí. Damien Meehan said there was a distinct smell of alcohol in the car.
Retired garda Brian Ford, who came on the scene, said there was a very strong smell of drink. He believed this was coming from the passenger in the garda car, who was another garda.
Mr Ford also accepted that he told investigators from GSOC that he smelled a passing whiff of alcohol from the driver of the car. He said he had a suspicion drink was involved in the accident.
Firefighter Andy O'Connor said he smelled alcohol from both gardaí. He said that while treating Garda Keys in the ambulance, it became obvious that he had been drinking.
Garda Keys was taken to Tallaght Hospital complaining of injuries to his shoulder and ribs. But when he got to the hospital, he said he was not going in and felt alright.
Sergeant Pat Slattery gave evidence that he managed to find Garda Keys at his house at about 4am the following morning.
Sergeant Slattery took a statement from him, but he said he did not breathalyse him because there is a three-hour time limit on breathalysing someone after an incident has taken place.
The trial before Judge Conal Gibbons at the District Court will continue tomorrow week.
