Teacher was three times drink drive limit after leaving McDonald’s
An unemployed teacher from Ballymena was caught driving at almost three times the drink limit after going to a McDonald’s drive-thru.
Eamonn Patrick O’Hara (59) of Deramore Avenue, admitted driving with excess alcohol in breath in Ballymena town centre on June 9 this year.
A prosecutor told Ballymena Magistrates Court police received a report from staff at McDonald’s drive-thru regarding a motorist who appeared to be heavily intoxicated.
Police saw the vehicle a short time later at Parkway in Ballymena and when it stopped there was a strong smell of intoxicating liquor and the defendant’s eyes were glazed and his speech slurred and slow.
The defendant, the prosecutor said, told police he had a health condition and could not give a preliminary breath test.
In custody the defendant had an alcohol in breath reading of 102 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.
A defence solicitor said it was a “very high reading” and the defendant had a previous similar conviction in 2010.
She said the defendant was an unemployed school teacher who “battles with alcohol”.
Deputy District Judge Greg McCourt said it was a “very high reading” and banned the defendant from driving for two years and fined him £350.