Co Armagh teenager found drunk-in-charge of a car loses licence for six months

Nineteen-year-old Ben McGee, from Abbey Park in Armagh, was also fined £150 and ordered to pay a £15 offender's levy for being in charge of the vehicle with excess alcohol in breath.

Dungannon Magistrates Court heard on Friday that the offence was detected at 2.10am on August 18 at a car park off the Dungannon Road, Moy.

Prosecuting counsel said the defendant appeared to be asleep when police approached the car and a preliminary breath test proved positive.

McGee was arrested and taken to Dungannon custody suite where he provided a breath specimen showing an alcohol reading of 53mcgs.

A defence lawyer explained that McGee, a trainee plumber, had been out with friends and when the taxi arrived to take them home there was not enough room for him.

The lawyer said McGee had then gone to his car and turned on the engine and heater while he waited for the taxi to return and collect him. He was not going to drive.

"He is a young man who made a huge mistake," the lawyer stressed, and pleaded with the court to impose a short period of disqualification that would enable him to get back on the road.

Deputy District Judge Sean O’Hare remarked that McGee had three penalty points for another matter and now he was back in court within a short period for being drunk-in-charge of a vehicle.