Pensioner’s long,clear driving record ended

Hugh McLaughlin, Wrights Park, Rathfriland, was also fined £250, with a £15 offender’s levy, for driving with excess alcohol on August 30 this year.

If he completes a probation course for drink driving the ban would be reduced by three months.

The court heard that at 1am the attention of police was drawn to a car weaving about on the road in Rathfriland.

They spoke to the defendant who was the driver and there was a smell of alcohol on his breath. An evidential test gave a reading of 72.

McLaughlin said: “That’s it. Good job. Guilty as charged.”

The defendant, said he had been at a party and it was the first time in years he had been up the street. His wife was in the car with him. He said that he didn’t know he was going to be taking a drink. He took his driving test in 1962.