Licence removed for a year

A COMPANY Director has lost his licence for a year after being charged with drink driving on his way to catch an early morning flight.

40-year-old Gareth Kennedy, with an address given as Glebe Gardens, Strabane, was stopped on Dungiven's Chapel Road by officers operating a vehicle checkpoint on December 15 last.

Officers asked Kennedy to supply a breath sample after noting his eyes were glazed and a smell of alcohol was coming from his breath. The 40-year-old was subsequently arrested after failing a preliminary breath test and taken to Limavady station where the lower alcohol reading was 65mcg. His defence solicitor told the court that Kennedy had been on his way for an early morning flight when he was stopped by police at 4.10am. He added that Kennedy was the Company Director of a steelworks in England and the loss of his licence would have "a dramatic impact on his ability to run that business".

His solicitor added that Kennedy had been out the previous night to 8pm for a meal and drinks and genuinely thought he was in a position to drive his car. District Judge Eamon King banned Kennedy from driving for a period of 12 months and ordered him to pay a fine of 250. Mr King added that he would certify the 40-year-old as an eligible candidate for the drink-drivers course, which if completed, would diminish the period of disqualification by three months.

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