Man parked at the side of the road to drink vodka

Shane McDonald, Bluestone Hall, Craigavon was fined £120 and banned for three months for being in charge of a vehicle with excess alcohol on his breath on December 11.

He was also fined £150 and banned for three months for failing to provide a specimen of breath.

The court heard that police received a report of a vehicle parked at Knockmenagh Road with its headlights and tail-lights on.

The defendant was in the car with a bottle of vodka between his legs. He appeared to be sleeping and the keys were in the ignition.

McDonald was cautioned and a roadside breath test gave a reading of 125. At Lurgan custody suite he failed to provide two evidential samples.

A defence solicitor said he had been driving for 18 years and had never been in trouble before.

He added that he suffered from depression and there were financial pressures. He had stopped taking his medication and it was only on the day of the offence he starting taking it again.

The solicitor explained that McDonald was going home and stopped at the off licence. He knew his wife would disapprove of him drinking at home so he pulled into a lay by and consume alcohol there with the intention of walking home.

The solicitor said that McDonald did give one evidential breath sample in the station which was 115 but he was unable to provide a second sample.

He told the court McDonald had not drunk since this incident and wanted to put the whole episode behind him.