Self-employed Co Armagh joiner, whose BMW was spotted 'swerving' after leaving a Lurgan bar, receives driving ban at Craigavon court
A driving ban, imposed on a Co Armagh self-employed joiner after he was spotted ‘swerving’ on the road after leaving a bar car park, will have a 'devastating’ impact on him, a court has heard.
Daniel James Patrick McManus, aged 45, from Belvedere Manor, Lurgan, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court pleading guilty to failing to provide a preliminary breath test and an evidential breath test.
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On February 1 this year, police were on mobile patrol on the Old Portadown Road, Lurgan driving passed The Stables Bar when they spotted a blue BMW leaving the car park.
The court heard police noted the driver was ‘flushed in the face’ and paid particular attention to police. They followed him onto the Portadown Road and Edward Streey where they observed the BMW ‘repeatedly swerve over the white lines’.
They activated their blue lights but the BMW driver ‘was slow to react’ finally pulling over at Church Place.
While McManus agreed to a preliminary breath test he failed to provide a reading ‘despite several attempts and warnings’. Later, McManus also failed to provide the evidential tests.
His solicitor, Mr Harry McCourt, explained McManus is a self-employed joiner and the loss of his licence will be “significant”.
The solicitor said the majority of his client’s work is in Belfast and north Down rather than locally, plus he has an apprentice who doesn’t drive and relies on the defendant to get him to sites.
"He will have to pay someone to transport them and that will have a long financial impact whilst this is ongoing,” he said, adding the defendant is the sole driver in the home.
"He is a man who is going to suffer greatly over the loss of his licence,” said Mr McCourt, adding it will be “devastating”. He asked the district judge to keep any driving ban to the minimum.
“He’d gone out for a meal with his partner and had two pints with that meal,” said Mr McCourt, adding the defendant may have passed the evidential test.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan banned McManus from driving for 12 months for the failing to provide an evidential sample and fined him £300 plus £15 offender levy. For failing to provide the preliminary test he received a six-month ban and was fined £150.