Moira woman who drove from pub '300 yards' from her home was found to be more than three times the legal drink driving limit, Lisburn court hears
A Moira woman has been banned from the roads after being found by police to be more than three times the legal drink driving limit.
Louise Hull, 45, whose address was given as Claremont Avenue, appeared before Lisburn Magistrates Court charged with driving with excess alcohol in breath, failing to stop when an accident occurred, and failing to report an accident.
The court heard that on January 26, 2026 at 1.27am, police received a report regarding a female who appeared to be intoxicated driving off from Main Street in Moira towards Meeting Street.
It was reported that as the vehicle turned into Meeting Street it struck an object, said to be a fence belonging to a neighbour of the defendant.
On arrival at the defendant’s home address, the police noted the vehicle outside the address and that it had a missing number plate and other damage.
The officers carried out a preliminary breath test, which gave a reading of 132 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.
The defendant was conveyed to Musgrave Custody Suite, where a second test gave an evidential reading of 112 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.
The court was told that the defendant had no previous record.
A defence stated: “It is a most unfortunate situation. She has been in a public house no more than 300 yards from her home.
"Her car was parked outside the public house and she thought she could safely drive her car back home.
“She hit a fence belonging to her neighbour. Work to fix the fence will be done as soon as possible.”
District Judge Rosie Watters disqualified the defendant from driving for 16 months.
She also imposed a fine of £250 and a £15 offender’s levy on the charge of excess alcohol.
Ms Watters further imposed a fine of £50 on each of the other charges.
During sentencing Ms Watters commented: “I have some sympathy in relation to reporting a damage-only accident.
"In my experience, you ring the police and report a damage-only accident and they ask why you are phoning but there is a legal duty.
"I think police should make call handlers aware of that.”