Irish international footballer mounted the pavement in his sports car while drunk driving and hit three cyclists who had stopped to fix a broken chain.
An Irish international professional soccer player has escaped prison and has been handed a 20-month motoring ban after hitting three cyclists driving his car while drunk.
Darren Gibson left the scene of the collision with the riders, who were on the pavement fixing a broken chain when they were hit, and drove to a nearby filling station where he hit a petrol pump.
A concerned attendant at the garage rang the police when Gibson, who has played almost 30 times for Ireland, got out of his black Nissan Skyline GT-R Nismo wearing no shoes and filled the vehicle with fuel.
When the police arrived they noticed an "obvious strong smell of alcohol" on the premiership player's breath.
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Subsequent tests at the local police station found a reading of 57 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath, above the legal limit of 35.
The incident occurred on August 16th in Bowdon, Cheshire. Gibson, a 27-year-old from Derry, is a former Manchester United player who now plies his trade at premiership rivals Everton.
He pleaded guilty at Trafford Magistrates' Court on Tuesday to driving with excess alcohol, driving without due care and failing to stop after an accident.
He was told by the court his 20-month driving ban could be reduced by five months if he completed an awareness course on drink driving.
He was also ordered to pay £5,700 to the three cyclists and sentenced to a 12-month community order under which he must work unpaid for 200 hours.
He told the court: "I am extremely apologetic and it was completely out of character."
Most of the compensation was paid to injured cyclist Philip Quinn, whose £4,500 bike was written off.
A further £1,000 was paid to Mr Quinn for the injuries he suffered and £100 each to the other two riders; Andrew Moran and Simon Howe. Gibson was also ordered to pay £295 in court costs.
After the case, Mr Quinn issued a statement saying immediately before being hit by Gibson’s car he heard “the roar of an engine and the skidding of tyres” and was then thrown off his Kuota K-Uno bike and into the air.
“I saw my bike laying on the road in pieces and the black car driving on to Dunham Road at speed," he said of the collision in the greater Manchester area.
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“I initially thought the car had hit us on purpose because it mounted the pavement.”
Mr Quinn was left with cuts to his legs, elbow and hand and bruising and pain to his ribcage and back.
Mr Howe was beside Mr Quinn at the time and suffered pain to his hips and back after his friend's bike hit him.
No information was given in court about any injuries suffered by Moran.
Evidence was heard that at the time of the incident Gibson was out injured after a fifth metatarsal fracture. He also suffered a stomach injury, which led to a hernia and required an operation.
He felt "very low" and was taking painkillers following his operation. The night before hitting the cyclists, he went out with his Everton team mates to celebrate a birthday.
He consumed "copious amounts of alcohol", mainly lager and later some vodka, and when he arrived home he argued with his wife, resulting in him leaving their home in his car.
His lawyer Oliver Jarvis told the court Gibson had left the house in Bowdon, Cheshire, “not going anywhere in particular", but conceded the midfielder had trouble recalling the events that followed.
“The defendant’s recollection of the events is hazy. He accepts everything that has been said about him,” Mr Jarvis said.
“He remembers ringing his wife at the petrol station saying he had been involved in an accident. His father-in-law then came and paid for his petrol.
“It is out of character. The defendant is extremely apologetic and remorseful, not just for the embarrassment he has brought on his family back home in Ireland but his wife and the football club he plays for.”
The court was told he had driven from the age of 19 years, had not previous convictions and had never had any disciplinary issues with Everton. Gibson left the court without making any comment.
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