Drink driver caught in Magherafelt after police were contacted by concerned member of the public
A labourer caught drink driving in Magherafelt town centre after being reported to police by a member of the public, has lost his licence for three years.
Odhran McCabe, aged 28, from Drumshancorick Road, Rosslea, Co Fermanagh was also fined £300 with a £15 offender’s levy for driving while having consumed excess alcohol on November 21 this year.
Imposing the penalties, District Judge Suzanne Rice remarked that the defendant has an identical offence within the past 10 years.
Prosecuting counsel said at approximately 8.30pm, the police received a report of from a member of the public about a male walking unsteady towards a vehicle and they suspected he had drink taken.
The lawyer said the police later stopped the vehicle in the vicinity of Rainey Street in the town and approached the driver who was accompanied by a single passenger.
She said McCabe provided a preliminary roadside breath test, which he failed, and was taken to Antrim Custody suite, where he provided an evidential specimen which showed an alcohol reading of 68 mcgs per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcgs.
A defence lawyer said the defendant is a single man who lives at home and works as a labourer.
He said McCabe understands the inevitability of having a previous conviction and pleaded with the court to be as lenient as possible.
Judge Rice said the defendant had an previous conviction for an indentical offence in 2020 and would have to be disqualifed from driving for three years.