Co Tyrone drink-driver who drove where children were playing handed two-year driving disqualification
A drink-driver who was said to be five times the legal alcohol limit drove where children were playing football and on bikes in Coalisland, a court has heard.
Before Dungannon Magistrates Court was 55-year-old Gary Joseph Morgan, from The Shanock, Coalisland, who was fined £250 with a £15 offender's levy and banned from driving for two years.
Morgan admitted a charge of failing to provide a specimen of breath when required on July 23.
Prosecuting counsel said police spoke to Morgan in the driveway of his home and detected a smell of intoxicating liquor.
She said he provided a preliminary specimen of breath which showed a reading of 174 mcgs per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcgs.
The lawyer said Morgan was taken to the police station, where he refused to provide an evidential specimen of breath.
A defence lawyer explained that on the day Morgan had been at a barbecue at a friend’s house about a quarter-of-a-mile away and had five or six drinks around 2pm with food.
He said the defendant also had a Chinese meal at 7.30pm and thought he was okay to drive.
District Judge Francis Rafferty remarked he was five times the legal limit, and perhaps he had so much drink he thought he was okay to drive.
Counsel said police followed him and there was “no swinging over the road or anything like that”.
He fully cooperated with the preliminary specimen but then had words with an officer.
The lawyer added that Morgan has medical appointments to attend and it will be difficult for him using public transport.