Caught out just yards from where he'd been drinking

Kieron Gaynor (46), of North Street, Lurgan, was banned from driving for 16 months last Wednesday at Craigavon Magistrates Court. He was also fined £175 for driving with excess alcohol in blood. If he completes a drink drive course the ban would be reduced to 12 months.

On March 5 this year at 8.45pm police saw a blue van turn from Ulster Street into Clara Street and it them to break.

When they spoke to Gaynor who was driving he said that he had consumed alcohol earlier in the evening and would probably be over the limit.

An evidential breath test gave a reading of 86, two and a half times the limit.

Mr Conor Downey, representing the defendant, said that where Gaynor was stopped was just a matter of yards from where he had been socialising.

He explained that the defendant had taken several pints of beer and had gone to see a friend. He could have walked around to his friend.

Mr Downey added that Gaynor was a self-employed builder and the loss of his licence will have a massive impact on his business.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said Gaynor had admitted the offence at the first opportunity in court and to police at the time.

But, he added, the defendant was two and a half times the limit, his driving was poor and it was a commercial vehicle he was using.