Man who was three times over the drink driving limit after crashing his car given road ban at Lisburn court
A man has been ordered to spend two years on probation after crashing his car whilst drunk.
He appeared before Lisburn Magistrates Court charged with driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs. He was further charged with possession of a Class A drug, namely cocaine.
The court heard that on Monday November 17, 2025 at 9.10pm police were tasked to a single vehicle road traffic collision on the Hannahstown Road in Lisburn and that it was suspected the driver was under the influence of drink or drugs.
It was stated that the defendant, Michael Gerard Morgan (35), whose address was given as Springfield Road in Belfast, appeared to be heavily intoxicated.
However, he told police that he had only consumed alcohol between the time of the accident and their arrival.
He was conveyed to custody and during a search a small bag of white powder, later confirmed to be cocaine, was found in his sock.
A breath test in custody gave an evidential reading of 105 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.
During police interview the defendant reiterated that he had only drunk after the collision.
Defence told the court: “He accepts the offence. He has admitted there was some post driving consumption of alcohol.
"He had a carry out in the car and he drank it while he was walking away from the car.
"He does have a significant history of addiction and he is on the road to recovery. Alcohol has always been an issue for him.”
During sentencing, District Judge Rosie Watters told the defendant: “I am going to give you an opportunity. You are lucky. Probation is going to help you.
"If you breach the probation order and you are back before me I will take a very, very dim view. You will be going to prison if you breach the probation order.”
Ms Watters imposed a probation order for two years.
She also disqualified the defendant from driving for a period of two years.
Ms Watters issued an order for the destruction of the drugs.