A priest is on trial in Poland for drunk driving on Good Friday
In Poland this week, a verdict is expected in the case of a clergyman who drove while intoxicated on Good Friday. According to court records, the incident occurred after he had been drinking, and the reason for the trip was reportedly a desire to visit McDonald’s.
The trial concerns events that took place two months ago in Lublin. On the night of April 2–3, police pulled over a Toyota Verso that was speeding; the priest was behind the wheel. According to media reports, he was heading to a McDonald’s restaurant.
A breathalyzer test showed that the 41-year-old man had more than two per mille of alcohol in his system.
The priest was taken to a police holding cell, his driver’s license was confiscated, and he was charged with driving under the influence. His car was also impounded.
On June 23, the man gave his account of the situation before a judge. In the courtroom, he explained that on Maundy Thursday, he had been performing his duties until late in the evening, and when he returned home, he opened a bottle of wine and drank several glasses.
“Then I felt very hungry. I hadn’t eaten much that day. The fridge was empty, so I decided to find a way to get something to eat,” the priest said.
At first, he wanted to order delivery to the parish house, but the wait time put him off, so he decided to drive out to get something to eat. “I lost my mind and decided to get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol. I regret that, because I’d never done that before. I also crossed my own moral boundaries. I’m trying to figure out for myself why this could have happened,” said Konrad Ż.
Although the defense requested that a priest acquaintance and the pastor of the defendant’s parish be questioned, the court did not grant this request. The decision to impound the priest’s car was also upheld.
Prior to this case, the defendant had an impeccable reputation. “He has never committed any illegal acts,” argued Piotr Sagan, the 41-year-old man’s attorney, asking the court to take this into account when handing down the sentence, according to RMF24.
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