Music teacher banned after reversing 800 metres while high on cannabis‑laced cake
A music teacher who unknowingly ate a cannabis‑laced cake at a party reversed her car for around 800 metres on the wrong side of the road after mistaking gardaí for robbers, a court heard.
Dublin District Court was told the woman, who had no previous convictions, had eaten a slice of cake at a social gathering without realising it contained cannabis. Later that day, while sitting in her vehicle, she saw figures approaching and believed she was about to be robbed.
In a state of panic and confusion, she put the car into reverse and travelled approximately 800 metres against oncoming traffic, on the wrong side of the road, before colliding with another vehicle. No serious injuries were reported, but the incident caused significant alarm to other road users.
Gardaí who attended the scene noted signs of impairment. Subsequent tests confirmed the presence of cannabis in her system. She later told officers she had “no idea” she had consumed the drug and said she had reacted out of fear when she saw people approaching her car.
The court accepted that the cannabis ingestion was unintentional, but the judge said the manner of driving created a clear danger to the public. The woman pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and to driving with cannabis in her system.
Her solicitor told the court she was “deeply embarrassed and remorseful” and had cooperated fully with the investigation. Character references described her as a dedicated teacher with an otherwise impeccable record.
Taking into account her early guilty plea, lack of previous convictions and genuine remorse, the judge imposed a two‑year driving ban and a €700 fine.
The woman left court visibly shaken but relieved to avoid a custodial sentence. The judge warned that, regardless of how the drug entered her system, the level of risk created on the road meant the offence had to be treated seriously.