Man (24) fined for driving while unfit

A Banbridge man who could barely keep his eyes open when he was found in a car was banned from driving for 12 months last Wednesday at Craigavon Magistrates Court.

Eoin Kelly (24) of Huntly Road, was also fined £300 and ordered to pay a £15 offender’s levy for driving while unfit through drink or drugs on April 8 this year.

The court heard police were informed of a possible intoxicated male in a car at a Gilford Road garage in Portadown. When they arrived they found Kelly in the car and asked him to take an impairment test. He was unsteady on his feet; his eyes were bloodshot and he was incapable of keeping them open for more than a short time. Kelly later could not provide a blood sample as his veins had collapsed because of drug use and he could not provide a urine sample . A defending solicitor said Kelly had been driving to a friend’s house; he was on tablets for anxiety and had gone to get a cup of coffee at the garage when witnesses saw him get into his car while unsteady on his feet. He had got into the car to sleep it off and was lying there when police arrived. He needed to be more careful with his medication.

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