In March, Ms O'[Shane], 67, was charged with low-range drink driving, after being caught near her home in Sydney’s upmarket suburb of Hunters Hill during a random roadside breath test. She admitted to having three glasses of champagne at a home in Mosman, on Sydney’s north shore. In that test, her blood alcohol concentration was 0.08.

CONTROVERSIAL magistrate Pat O’Shane, facing a drink driving charge, sat quietly through her court proceedings yesterday, looking grave as she listened to her barrister argue that she was not just a woman of good character but as the country’s first indigenous magistrate, an outstanding community figure.

She escaped without a conviction, but was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond.

It was an unusual position for the magistrate, more used to holding court than acting as supplicant.

In March, Ms O’Shane, 67, was charged with low-range drink driving, after being caught near her home in Sydney’s upmarket suburb of Hunters Hill during a random roadside breath test. She admitted to having three glasses of champagne at a home in Mosman, on Sydney’s north shore. In that test, her blood alcohol concentration was 0.08.

She was then taken to a police station at Chatswood, where she blew the legal limit of 0.05.

In June she pleaded guilty.

After the hearing yesterday, Ms O’Shane refused to speak to reporters. Her solicitor, Andrew Thorpe, said his client was embarrassed and ashamed. He said she deeply regretted the events of that evening.

Ms O’Shane has continued her work as a magistrate since she was charged.

Credit: John Stapleton