Drink driver was on his way to see girlfriend

Colm Joseph Haughian, Derrytrasna Road, Lurgan, was fined £300, with a £15 offender’s levy, for driving with excess alcohol on February 22 this year.

He was also banned from driving for 12 months but this ban would be reduced to nine if he completed a course for drink drivers.

Banbridge Magistrates Court heard last Thursday that at 2.50am the attention of the police was drawn to the vehicle in front of them on the Lurgan Road, Banbridge.

They stopped it and when he got out of the car Haughian smelled of intoxicating liquor and was unsteady on his feet. An evidential breath test gave a reading of 94.

A solicitor for the defendant said he had been driving since he was 20 and had a clear record. He was going to see his girlfriend who lives in Banbridge.