Lisburn man banned from the roads after being involved in a collision whilst drink driving
A Lisburn man has been banned from driving following a road traffic collision on the Prince William Road.
He appeared before Lisburn Magistrates Court charged with a number of motoring offences, including failing to provide a specimen when driving with excess alcohol, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, failing to remain at the scene of an accident, and failing to report an accident.
The court heard that on March 21, 2026 police received a report of a road traffic collision on the Prince William Road in Lisburn.
It was stated that the defendant, John Mackey (58), whose address was given as Killowen Grange in Lisburn, failed to remain at the scene of the accident but got caught up in traffic close to a local school and was stopped by police.
A roadside breath test gave a reading of 84 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.
He was arrested and taken into custody.
Whilst in custody he gave one breath sample, with a reading of 71 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. However, he failed to give the additional two samples needed for an evidential reading.
A defence lawyer told the court the defendant had health issues which caused shortness of breath, which is why he had failed to provide the breath sample whilst in custody.
He continued: “He has no criminal record and a clean driving licence.
"He was medically retired a year ago. He has had three heart bypasses and a number of heart attacks.
"He is extremely ashamed to find himself before the court.
"He had been drinking the night before at home, watching rugby. He stayed up late and got into the car early the next morning for an MOT test.
"Thankfully no one was injured in the accident and he was fully insured.”
District Judge Rosie Watters commented: “He had an accident and he didn’t stop which is an aggravating feature.”
On the charge of failing to provide a specimen, Ms Watters disqualified the defendant from driving for 16 months and imposed a fine of £250, as well as an offender’s levy of £15. She also imposed a fine of £50 on each of the other charges.