Drink driving police officer spared prison

Community service and six-year ban imposed

A police officer who crashed her car whilst almost three times the drink drive limit has been spared prison.

Forty-one-year-old Chloe Keegan, of Marsden Terrace, Ramsey, has been ordered to carry out 200 hours community service by Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes, who sentenced Keegan at Douglas courthouse today.

She has also been banned from driving for six years, after which she must retake her test to get her licence back.

The offence was committed on 18 April this year, after Keegan had shared four bottles of wine over the course of the afternoon and evening with a friend.

Her car ended up on its roof in a field, after she had failed to negotiate a bend.

Sentencing her, Mrs Hughes said Keegan had lost both her good character and her job with the Isle of Man Constabulary as a result of her actions.

These actions had also undermined the work of the Manx force and chief constable when it came to tackling drink driving.

The court heard Keegan had had an unblemished 15-year career as a police officer, both here and in Ireland, until she committed the offence.

She had received an exemplary reference from Inspector Andy Kneen.

Keegan was described as a moderate drinker who, despite admitting the offence at the earliest opportunity, could offer no explanation as to why she had decided to try and drive home and could remember nothing from that night beyond 9pm.