Carpet fitter loses licence for 18 months

Declan Joseph O’Neill from Rathmore, Cookstown, was also fined £250 with a £15 offender levy for driving while having consumed excess alcohol.

Deputy District Judge John Rea at Magherafelt Magistrates Court certified O’Neill suitable for the drink driving rehabilitation course which, if completed successfully, could reduce the driving ban to 15 months.

Prosecution counsel said on August 2 at approximately 3pm police received a report of a suspect drink driver having being stopped by another driver at Moneymore Road, Cookstown.

He said the defendant failed a preliminary breath test.

Wednesday’s court was told an evidential reading of 118mgs in breath was obtained.

Defending solicitor Stephen Atherton described it as “a day after case”.

Mr Atherton said O’Neill had been celebrating his 50th birthday the previous evening and thought he was okay to drive.

He said the defendant ran a carpet fitting business and employed two people, and he realises that through his action he places that business and the continued employment of those workers at risk.

Mr Atherton said the reading was an aggravating factor but pleaded with the court to deal with the matter as leniently as possible given the circumstances and defendant’s record.