Co Antrim man prominent in GAA club was caught four times drink drive limit after attending friend's wake
A man prominent in a GAA club was four times the drink drive limit after being at a friend's wake.
The 67-year-old was detected in the Ahoghill area on April 7.
Edward Michael Hardy, of Crosskeys Road near Ahoghill, had an alcohol in breath reading of 144 - the legal limit is 35.
At Ballymena Magistrates Court on Thursday he admitted driving with excess alcohol, failing to provide a preliminary breath test, and insurance and driving licence offences.
A prosecutor said a collision had occurred in a parking area when the defendant had driven a vehicle into a stationary vehicle.
When police arrived he was "not co-operative" and failed to provide a preliminary breath test. He was not insured for the vehicle and "didn't have a driving licence".
When taken to a police station his alcohol in breath reading was 144. When interviewed "the following morning" he admitted driving.
The court was told in 2017 he was banned from driving for four years for a drink driving offence.
A defence barrister said the defendant was at the wake of a friend on April 7 and he had reversed his "daughter's" car into a parked car and was "remorseful".
The lawyer said the defendant has been attending Alcoholics Anonymous and his instructions were he "hasn't touched alcohol since this date".
He said the defendant "gives back a lot to his community" and is "involved in" a "GAA club" having managed the team and being chairperson, the barrister said.
District Judge Nigel Broderick said it had been a "high reading".
The defendant received a three-month jail term, suspended for three years; three-year driving ban and £100 fine.