Fell asleep on the A4 dual carriageway

“I take no pleasure (in this sentence) but I do have to apply the law,” District Judge John Meehan told East Tyrone Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday as he handed down a driving ban of a year.

Police reported how they came across a Vauxhall Astra, stationary on the hard shoulder of the A4 Dual Cariageway near Granville at 4.15am on October 31st.

The headlights were on and the keys were in the ignition while the driver, Neil Dynes, 32, from McCreedy’s Mill, was found asleep in the car.

The police detected signs of alcohol consumption and he subsequently provided a breath sample of 55mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

“He is a professional driver by occupation and is from a tragic and sad background,” said Mr Noel Dillon, defending, outlining how his client had lost his wife at age 32 earlier in the year.

“He was frustrated after the loss of an iPhone full of cherished memories.

“He now faces the loss of his occupation as a result of this (incident).”

Mr Dillon then asked the court to allow his client some consolidation by registering him for the Probation Service’s drink drivers’ course.

Calling it a “tragic situation”, Judge Meehan handed down a fine of £100 and a twelve-month driving disqualification.

He further imposed an offender’s levy of £15 before ordering that upon the successful completion of the drink drivers’ course he would allow a 25 per cent reduction in Mr Dynes’ term of disqualification.