Too drunk to open the car window

But when he thought he was fit to head home the manner of his driving brought him to the attention of the police.

Thomas O’Sullivan (59), Rathkearn, The Glen, was fined £250 last Thursday at Banbridge Magistrates Court for driving with excess alcohol on January 31 this year. He was also banned for 12 months and ordered to pay a £15 offender’s levy.

The court heard that at 4.40am police saw a car towing a trailer in Downshire Place, Banbridge, and by the manner of the driving it seemed as if the driver was intoxicated.

They saw it come out of the car park behind the Imperial Bar and the defendant, who was the driver, looked dazed. He was unable to open the window when requested to by police. When the door was opened he almost fell out of the vehicle.

O’Sullivan was unsteady on his feet and police could smell alcohol on his breath.

After failing an initial test an evidential breath test gave a reading of 60. When cautioned he said: “I know. I’ve been drinking.”

Mr Conor Downey, representing the defendant, said O’Sullivan was from County Kerry and had contacts in Armagh and Down, trading in sheep.

He explained that the defendant had met friends and gone with one of them for a few drinks. Mr Downey said that O’Sullivan normally booked into a hotel but it was full and instead he slept for several hours in his car. It was his intention to make his way home and thought most of the alcohol was out of his system.

He added that £500 in sterling had been taken from the defendant and held by police. O’Sullivan had made his way to the court by taking the train from Kerry.