'I think he has wised up,' barrister for Lurgan man accused of dangerous driving tells Craigavon court
“I think he has wised up,” said a Co Armagh man’s barrister as his client pleaded guilty to a raft of offences including dangerous driving.
Blaine McDonald, aged 33, from Carrickvale Manor, Lurgan, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
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McDonald pleaded guilty to two sets of charges dating back 18 months ago.
Firstly he was accused of dangerous driving on Charlestown Road, Craigavon, failing to provide a preliminary and substantive specimen, failing to stop at a damage-only crash, failing to remain and failing to report that accident plus possessing the Class B drug cannabis on September 28, 2024.
He was also accused of possessing cannabis on September 10, 2024 and failing to provide a specimen regarding a driving while unfit allegation at Silverwood Road, Lurgan on the same date.
McDonald’s barrister, Mr David McKeown, said his client was “engaging in criminality due to difficulties in his life’ in 2024”.
"This has been a wake-up call to him,” said the barrister, adding there had been no suggestion of bail breaches in the last 16 months.”
Mr McKeown said the defendant hadn’t come to the attention of police since which he told the court “was impressive”.
"I think he has wised up," he said, adding McDonald wants to put this behaviour behind him.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said for all charges in the first case McDonald will get a driving ban of four months and fined £100 for each offence plus £15 offender levy.
On the second set of charges ,McDonald was banned from driving for four months for failing to provide a specimen plus a £100 fine and fined £100 for cannabis possession.