Cookstown man spotted in hotel car park attempting to get car started loses licence for four months
A Cookstown man found by police attempting to start a car in the park of local hotel, has been handed a four-month disqualification for failing to provide a specimen while in charge with excess alcohol.
Sean Donnelly, aged 44, from Westland Crescent, was also fined £250 and ordered to pay a £15 offender’s levy arising out of the incident in the vicinity of Drum Road, Cookstown, on October 25 last year.
Dungannon Magistrates Court heard that the police were on mobile patrol at approximately 1.50am when they spotted a car with its bonnet up and doors open in the car park.
Prosecuting counsel said on speaking to Donnelly he told them he was not driving but attempting to start the car.
He said officers detected a smell of intoxicating liquor from the defendant, and he was taken to Dungannon custody suite and during the procedure failed to provide a specimen.
Counsel said Donnelly told police he had been to a wedding and gone to the car as it had an ESC problem and wanted to see if it was going.
He said he was living in Cookstown and was planning to walk home, and was going to provide a specimen but had got “gobby with drink”.
A defence lawyer explained the defendant had three penalty points on his licence and realised there was going to be a disqualification.
He added that Donnelly required his licence as he has two children from a previous relationship he stayed in touch with and to get employment.