Delivery driver alerted police in Lurgan to a motorist who was almost four times the drink driving limit, Craigavon court hears
A delivery driver alerted police in Lurgan to a man who was almost four times over the legal drink driving limit, a court has heard.
The 58-year-old appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court.
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Michael Delaney of Clanrolla Park, Craigavon pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.
The court heard police were on mobile patrol in Church Place, Lurgan on July 31 this year when they were approached by a delivery driver.
He raised concerns about a motorist parked outside the Burger Stop.
Police approached the vehicle and spotted a litre bottle of vodka on the passenger seat. There was a strong smell of liquor from the defendant who was slurring his speech.
After his arrest, Delaney blew an evidential reading of 137 micrograms of alcohol to 100 millilitres of breath. The legal drink driving limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.
Delaney’s barrister, Ms Ciara Ennis, said: “It is the situation alcohol was consumed prior and he had driven to where he was but he continued to consume alcohol.
"While it is accepted it is quite a high reading, it might be that part of that reading was after he had driven and continued to consume alcohol,” she said.
Two references for the defendant were submitted to court. Ms Ennis said her client is a full time carer for his mother, adding: "He obviously has struggles himself.”
The barrister added: “He’s a well educated, intelligent man. He’s had a very good career in the past but in recent years has struggled with his mental health.”
She added Delaney hasn't driven since the incident and the car has been “removed”.
Ms Ennis said her client has no previous convictions and “is not someone you would expect to see before the court”.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan noted the defendant’s ‘clear criminal record’ and said he had read the references in his support.
"They speak of a man of a very high character before this matter and a man I would not have expected to see in court,” he said.
He said that, although the reading was almost four times the limit, he was keeping the driving ban to 12 months and fined him £350 plus the £15 Offender Levy.