Toome spray painter out socialising in Magherafelt made 'foolish decision' to drive home
A Co Antrim spray painter who had been socialising in Magherafelt and could not get a taxi home made a ‘foolish decision’ to drive home, the local Magistrates Court was told on Friday.
The court heard on August 23 at approximately 12.47am, police received a report of a suspected drink-driver on the A6 at Castledawson.
Twenty-eight-year-old Eunan Toal, of Carlane Road, Toome, was fined £250 with a £15 offender’s levy and disqualified from driving for 14 months for driving while having consumed excess alcohol in breath.
Prosecuting counsel said police were told the vehicle was swerving over the road and later stopped it at Castledawson Park and Ride.
He said on speaking to the driver, officers noticed a smell of intoxicating liquor and he failed a premlinary breath test.
The lawyer said an evidential specimen was obtained showing an alcohol count of 71mcgs per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcgs.
Defence solicitor Stephen Atherton asked the court to give the defendant maximum credit for the way he has dealt with the matter and the way he co-operated with police at the roadside.
He explained the defendant had been out socialising in Magherafelt and had no intention of driving, but could not get a taxi and made the foolish decision to drive the relatively short distance home.
Mr Atherton said the father-of-two is a spray painter and his business could be impacted by his disqualification.
District Judge Conor Heaney remarked the defendant has a clear record for this type of offence.