Ant Mcpartlin Arrested On Suspicion Of Drink-Driving.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5516183/Ant-McPartlin-arrested-drink-driving.html

[EDDIE51]

I imagine the painkillers he is addicted to are opiate based. Driving under the influence of them is as bad if not worse than Drink Driving.
If its a combination of the two ,then that is worse again.

[DTCwordfan]

He was pishhed as a skunk...not much argument about that - you do the time for the crime (or pay for it).....lucky that he didn't kill that kid or anyone else.

Bet he feels like a brown poo today, but so he should - and here was a man who could have easily employed a chauffeur and bodyguard full time - the word 'p-at' comes to mind.

[Prudie]

I'm not sure we have ever been privy to his 'medical condition', it's conjecture that he has depression. His addiction was for painkillers not alcohol. I think he just got *** and got behind a wheel, as do many lesser mortals every day.

[andy-hughes]

kvalidir - Yes I obviously irritate you Andy so please ignore me, that would be heaven indeed. //

I think I get to make the decisions over who does or does not irritate me, and who I choose to ignore.

I'll let you know ...

[andy-hughes]

kvalidir - // My argument with Andy is that he assumed that it's because of Ant McPartlin's addictions and mental health and I think that's a big jump to make, he may simply just drink, plenty of people do. //

You assume that I assume - I actually don't.

[237SJ]

I agree with Prudie. Nobody here is privy to his mental state. And nor is the Daily Mail (from where most on here have formed their judgement on him) I hope that he gets over his current crisis

[andy-hughes]

kvalidir - // He deliberately got into a car when he was drunk Andy, anyone could have been his victim. //

No-one knows what his mental state was at the time.

I am suggesting that it may be connected to his depression - I may be entirely wrong.

The difference between us is, you have him convicted and executed, in common with some others on the thread.

I am keeping an open mind - also in common with some others on the thread, but not the same ones.

[Prudie]

Andy there is no open mind on drunk driving. He was over the limit and the reasons are irrelevant.

[chrissa1]

How do you all seem to know that he was “smashed?.” Everyone is routinely breathalysed after even a tiny bump in a car.

He was obviously over the limit, but no one knows by how much.

[andy-hughes]

Prudie - // Andy there is no open mind on drunk driving. He was over the limit and the reasons are irrelevant. //

As I have explained previously, there are mental conditions where rational and correct choices are not made.

It is possible that this is one of those situations.

It is equally possible that this is not the case, and if Mr McPartlin has simply been irresponsible, then the law should take its course.

I merely put forward the possibility, because none of us actually know, although some are pronouncing fire and brimstone as though they were there and know what has gone on.

[-Talbot-]

Zero tolerance ... no excuses.

[Garaman]

Depression cannot be used as an excuse for drink driving.

[-Talbot-]

And a lifetime ban

[Cloverjo]

Chrissa //Everyone is routinely breathalysed after even a tiny bump in a car. //

No, they're not. I've had a couple of bumps in my car, one of which was my fault. The others were not. No one involved was breathalysed at any of them.

[pixie374]

Nobody is giving depression as an excuse. It often does help to understand the reasons though- especially if you want to prevent it in future.

[andy-hughes]

Garaman - // Depression cannot be used as an excuse for drink driving. //

No, it can't.

But, depending on the individual circumstances, it can be used as an explanation, which is a very different matter.

I, and a few others, have put forward the suggestion that Mr McPartlin's mental condition may have had a part to play in this incident.

It may not, we don't know, but this is a debating forum, so we are debating.

That should mean exploring possibilities, rather than condemning a stranger on the basis of media reporting.

[237SJ]

When someone is clinically depressed, they can be of the mindset that they simply don't care what happens to them. They don't care if they live or die. Do you think that people would commit suicide if they were of sound mind? And is someone is so depressed that they don't care if they live or die, do you think that they would worry about the lives of others? I don't think so.

[andy-hughes]

Pixie and I have cross-posted, but see this the same way.

It's interesting to note that the people who are willing to understand that a medical condition may be involved here, are people who know something about what they are talking about.

If a woman cited PMT as a reason for crashing her car, I would not be willing to condemn her out of hand because something may be involved with is beyond my comprehension, so I would be more than willing to wait and see before I put my black cap on.

[-Talbot-]

there can be no mitigating circumstances.

[andy-hughes]

Colverjo - // No, they're not. I've had a couple of bumps in my car, one of which was my fault. The others were not. No one involved was breathalysed at any of them. //

Interesting. Last time the police were involved in an accident I was involved in, I was not breathalysed - my car was written off by a National Express Coach.

But the time before, when my wife's car was almost written off by a mini-link bus driver (what is it with me and buses!!!) I was breathalysed.

The officer asked me when I last had alcohol to drink so I told him - 1983!!!