Man told police he was kidnapped

A 33-year-old man told police that he had been kidnapped, stripped of his clothes which were then replaced with different ones and had beer poured down his throat while he was unconscious.

But the allegations turned out to be false and led to Muredach Martin Doherty, of 85 Bridge Road, Dunloy, appearing at North Antrim Magistrates Court on Wednesday last to answer a charge of driving while unfiit through drink or drugs at a lay-by at Tullaghans Road, Dunloy, on December 22, 2009.

A summons for failing to provide a specimen of breath was withdrawn.

Described by the District Judge, Mr. Richard Wilson, of inventing Walter Mitty type stories, Doherty was fined 300 and banned from driving for three years. Bail was fixed for the purposes of appeal.

A solicitor for the prosecution said that police were tasked to attend the Tullaghans Road on the night in question. When they got to a lay-by, the engine of Doherty's car was running and there was slight damage to the front offside. The driver appeared to be asleep and only wakened after several attempts by the officers. He was said to appear heavily intoxicated, but a subsequent breath test failed.

Doherty was arrested and failed to provide a satisfactory sample of breath.

During an interview, Doherty said he had been at a friend's house watching a DVD until 1.30 am. in the morning. He had taken no alcohol and had got into his car to drive home only making it as far as the end of the street.

He then couldn't remember any more, but thought he had been kidnapped, stripped of his clothes which were then replaced by different ones and had beer poured down his throat while in an unconscious state.

The damage to his vehicle, the court heard, was said to have taken place several weeks earlier.

Doherty's solicitor said the story about being kidnapped was untrue and that defendant had only made a bad situation worse than it was.

The solicitor said that Doherty had been at a friend's house and had left, only to return to the home.

A row followed and defendant made off in his vehicle later sleeping in it.

The solicitor stressed that the vehicle was not able to be driven due to a broken shaft.

The solicitor said that Doherty lived with his elderly parents and had been drinking quite heavily because of the responsibility of looking after them.

Doherty, said the solicitor, was presently unemployed and on benefits.

It was revealed that Doherty had already had a conviction for a drink offence.

District Judge, Mr. Wilson, said that story given to police by Doherty was Walter Mitty like.