Took brother’s car to drive to uncle’s house

With his judgement clouded by alcohol a Magheralin man decided to take his brother’s car and drive to his uncle’s house, Craigavon Magistrates Court heard last Friday.

David Timothy Patrick Gracey (23), whose address was given as Ballymacbredan Road, Magheralin, was fined £150 and banned for 12 months for driving with excess alcohol on June 30 this year.

He was also fined £250, with a £15 offender’s levy, and disqualified for three months for driving without having insurance.

A £90 fine was imposed for taking a vehicle without the consent of the owner and he was fined £60 for not displaying ‘L’ plates and £75 for driving unsupervised.

The court heard that at 5.10am police received a report from the injured party that his brother had taken his vehicle from the house and was intoxicated.

The vehicle had been returned by 5.45am and was in the driveway. The bonnet was still warm.

Gracey was arrested and an evidential breath test gave a reading of 56. He had no previous convictions.

Mr Gerry Drain, representing the defendant, said that Gracey, unknown to his brother, took his car to drive a quarter of a mile to his uncle’s house.

He added there was no-one at the uncle’s house so he drove back.

Mr Drain said it was a ‘prank gone wrong’ because the defendant’s judgement was affected by the amount of alcohol he had consumed.