Drove to get his children pizza after he had been drinking

But Paul Michael McGrath (48), whose address was given to the court as Rectory Park, Lurgan, was stopped by police and charged with driving with excess alcohol on April 3 this year.

He was fined £175 last Wednesday at Craigavon Magistrates Court for the offence and banned for 18 months.

The court heard that at 12.30am police stopped the defendant in William Street, Lurgan, and there was a strong smell of alcohol on his breath.

A preliminary test gave a reading of 106 and McGrath was arrested. He said: “I only had two pints of Bass.”

An evidential breath test gave a reading of 97.

A barrister representing the defendant said McGrath had been out for a few pints and had gone home. His children asked him to go and get a pizza and he had only driven a short distance.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said McGrath had a previous excess alcohol offence, although it was not within the ten year period, and he was three times the limit.