Maghera motorist detected for drink driving offence in town centre
A South Derry motorist detected drink driving in Maghera town centre has lost his licence for 12 months at Magherafelt Magistrates Court.
Niall Collins, of Cloneen Drive, Maghera, was also fined £200 with a £15 offender's levy for driving while having consumed excess alcohol in breath.
The court heard the offence was detected in the vicinity of Coleraine Road, Maghera, on April 2.
Prosecuting counsel said the defendant provided a lower reading breath test of 43 mcgs per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcgs.
A defence lawyer handed into court a statement from the defendant.
He stressed Collins had no record and it was a “very low reading”.
Counsel asked the court to consider that the defendant was taken steps to “address the issues at hand”.
District Judge Conor Heaney said he accepted the defendant is addressing the underlying issues in his life.
He added that he would give him maximum credit for his clear record and early plea.