District judge tells Cookstown drink-driver she was a danger to herself and other roadusers

Before the court was Kathy Patterson, aged 43, from Lissan Road in the town, who was disqualified from driving for four years and six months.

Patterson was also fined £350 with a £15 offender's levy for driving while having consumed excess alcohol on October 25.

Counsel prosecuting told Dungannon Magistrates Court that police were operating a vehicle checkpoint at Fairhill Road in Cookstown when they stopped a car and spoke to the defendant.

He said officers noticed a smell of intoxicating liquor coming from the vehicle and the defendant failed a roadside test.

She was arrested and conveyed to custody where an evidential specimen was obtained showing an alcohol reading of 135 mcgs per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcgs.

Counsel added that the defendant has a record.

Defence solicitor Stephen Atherton explained the defendant had a similar matter seven years ago.

Mr Atherton asked the court to give her credit for entering a plea at the very earliest opportunity.

Outlining the background, he said the defendant had been the victim of a serious assault and had turned to drinking after running into her assailant.

He said she had tried sleeping the alcohol off that day, but was still not fit to be driving.

Mr Atherton added she is a single mother of two children and it was going to be very difficult for her in the coming years.