‘Emotional and slurring’ US investment bank executive, 28, is banned from the roads for driving her BMW into two cars after downing wine

• Ciara Horigan, 28, crashed her BMW into the back of two cars in central London 
• Ms Horigan was one-and-a-half times over the drink drive limit after the crash
•  She pleaded guilty today to drink driving at Camberwell Magistrates’ Court
• Magistrates banned Ms Horigan from driving for 14 months and fined her £1,000 

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Ciara Horigan, pictured today leaving Camberwell Magistrates’ Court, was banned from driving for 14 months and fined £1,000 having admitted a single charge of drink driving following a crash on March 1

An assistant vice president of a top American bank drove her BMW into the back of two cars in central London whilst putting on her seatbelt after downing wine.

Ciara Horigan, 28, was one and a half times over the drink drive limit and was described as slurring her words and being ’emotional’ after the accident on Albert Embankment on March 1.

When police arrived at the scene in Vauxhall, south west London just after 8pm, she was exchanging details with the other drivers and told officers ‘it’s completely my fault’.

Horigan, an assistant vice president at American investment bank State Street who is from Upminster, east London failed a breathalyser test and was taken to a police station.

The bank, based in Boston with London offices, has assets of $2.5 trillion.

She pleaded guilty to drink-driving at Camberwell Magistrates’ Court and was slapped with a near £1,000 fine and costs which she offered to pay in full straight away.

Wearing a navy blazer, grey skirt and pumps, she wept throughout the hearing.

Prosecutor George Crivelli said: ‘Ms Horigan was driving a vehicle that was in collision with two other vehicles at 8.10pm – there were no injuries.

‘Officers came across the collision after it happened while the drivers were exchanging details – Ms Horigan said ‘it was completely my fault, I was putting on my seatbelt and drove into the back of them’.

‘She was slurring her words and seemed emotional, she said she had had a glass of wine.

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‘She took a breath test and failed and was taken to a police station where she gave a reading of 51 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

‘The defendant has no previous convictions or cautions.’

Tearfully, Horigan, who represented herself, said she had recently broken up with a boyfriend and had some ‘personal problems’.

She said: ‘First of all, I would like express my deepest apologies – I didn’t believe I was in excess of the limit.

‘While there is no excuse there were several personal circumstances affecting me at the time and I have brought with me a character reference

Ms Horigan, pictured, crashed her BMW into the rear of two cars on Albert Embankment on March 1. The court heard the bank official was slurring her words

Ms Horigan, pictured on the bonnet of a Rolls Royce told the court she had just broken up with her boyfriend and her disabled father was very disabled and needed her to get him around

‘I had just broken up with my boyfriend and my father is not well and very disabled – he is very dependent on me getting him around.

‘Of course going forward I will have a zero tolerance towards this.’

When the district judge told her after a guilty plea a driving disqualification was mandatory, Horigan said: ‘Professionally, it would be a problem going forward but I understand it’s mandatory.’

When deciding on the sentence, District Judge Karim Ezzat read papers containing her income but not to the court.

He asked: ‘The figure for your income, is that monthly or weekly?’

Horigan said: ‘Weekly.’

DJ Ezzat said: ‘Taking into account your income the appropriate fine is £800, as well as £85 costs and £80 surcharge.

‘I’m going to disqualify you for 14 months – if you complete a drink driving rehabilitation course by December 9 it will be reduced by 14 weeks.’

When asked how she could pay the fine, Horigan said: ‘I can pay it in full today.’

An older woman accompanied Horigan for the day and both appeared relieved leaving court. 

Ms Horigan, pictured, was told her driving ban will be reduced by 14 weeks if she completes a drink driving rehabilitation course by December 9

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