Co Tyrone man who ran away after performing handbrake turn, loses licence for 18 months
A motorist who ran away after police on mobile patrol spotted him performing a handbrake turn in Ballygawley, has been fined a total of £500 with an offender's levy of £15 and banned from driving for 18 months at Dungannon Magistrates Court on Friday.
Twenty-nine-year-old Noel McVeigh from Aghafad Road, Galbally, admitted charges of driving without due care and attention, having no insurance, and failing to provide preliminary and evidential specimens while driving with excess alcohol on July 13 this year.
Prosecuting counsel said police saw McVeigh and another male in the vehicle run away from the vehicle after the handbrake turn in Main Street around 1.50am, and the police ran after them.
The lawyer said police eventually caught up with the defendant in a local alleyway and handcuffed him.
She said he gave his name as 'Bob' before getting round to his correct name 'Noel'.
McVeigh began shouting at police that the handcuffs were too tight and refused to provide a specimen of breath, she said.
The lawyer said he was then arrested and detained where he refused to provide an evidential specimen telling police that he had asthma.
Pleading for leniency, a defence lawyer said that McVeigh had simply “panicked” when he saw the police vehicle in the street.
He explained that the incident happened when the week was over and after the defendant had been working over 12 hour shifts.
Counsel added McVeigh has two children and the loss of his licence will cause him great difficulty.