District judge tells Co Tyrone drink driver he was a disgrace and a danger to other road users

John Doyle, aged 68, from Ashbourne Court, Dungannon, was also disqualified from driving for 10 years for driving with excess alcohol, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and taking a vehicle without the authority of its owner on November 18 last year.

Bail of £250 fixed to appeal the jail sentence, and permission to drive pending appeal, was refused.

District Judge Francis Rafferty told Doyle he treated orders of this court with absolute contempt and was a danger to other people on the roads.

Prosecuting counsel said police received a report at 3pm about an intoxicated male on the Eglish Road in Dungannon.

She said the defendant was reported entering the roundabout towards a car wash, where the vehicle came to a stop.

Counsel said the defendant was slumped over the steering wheel and when a member of the public opened the door of the car, he threw a bottle of whiskey in their direction.

She said the reporting person remained at the scene until police arrived, who found Doyle slumped over the wheel and he appeared to be asleep.

The lawyer said the defendant did not appear to know that he was speaking to police officers, and he provided a roadside test showing a reading of 126 mcgs.

He was arrested and taken to Dungannon custody suite where he provided an evidential specimen showing a reading of 97 mcgs per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcgs.

Counsel added that further enquiries showed he was disqualifed from driving and did not have insurance.

She said during an interview Doyle told police he had took his wife’s car when she was away.

Passing sentence, District Judge Rafferty told the defendant he was a disgrace and a danger to everyone else on the roads.

Mr Rafferty said drink driving is a factor in many road deaths and injuries in Northern Ireland.