Retired stone mason given three-year driving ban

Seventy-one-year-old Francis Quinn from Ballymaguire Road, was fined £185 with a £15 offender levy.

He was also fined a further £250 for having no insurance, driving while unaccompanied, and failing to display ‘L’ plates.

The court was told the police were on mobile patrol in Ardboe area when they pulled the defendant over at Trickvallen Road.

A prosecution lawyer said on speaking to Quinn the officers detected a smell of intoxicating liquor and he failed a preliminary test at the roadside.

He was arrested and taken to Dungannon station where he provided an evidential specimen showing a reading of 61mgs of alcohol in breath, counsel said.

The lawyer added that a check by police revealed the defendant had no insurance and was a provisional licence holder.

A defence lawyer explained that Quinn had been disqualified in 2014 and had never re-sat his test.

He said the retired stone mason had been travelling to a social club to get a carry out when he was stopped.

The lawyer said the defendant should not have been on the road, and asked the court to give him credit for his early plea.

He added he would not be asking for certification for the drink-driving rehabilitation course.