Caught drink driving twice on the same day

Stephen O’Donnell, from Ballyorr Drive, Newbuildings, pleaded guilty to two charges of driving with excess alcohol on breath on August 23.

Derry Magistrate’s Court heard that police were sent to Water Street in the early hours of the morning.

Police approached a vehicle and the defendant was sitting in the driver’s seat and the engine was warm.

He was arrested for drink-driving a breath test gave a reading of 88 mgs. of alcohol in 100 mls. of breath.

O’Donnell was charged with the offence but released on bail to appear in court at a later date.

However, 12 hours later police were alerted to someone driving in an industrial park in Newbuildings.

He was getting in and out of the car, shouting and continuing to drive around.

Officers found O’Donnell asleep in the car.

A breath test gave a reading of 129 mgs. of alcohol in 100 mls. of breath.

Ciaran McGuinness, defence solicitor, said O’Donnell is a ‘recovering alcoholic’ who ‘battles with drink’.

He said O’Donnell had not had a drink in a year as he had been using his money for driving lessons to pass his test.

He added the defendant had some ‘personal difficulties that led to him drinking again that day and it is something he really regrets’.

District Judge Barney McElholm fined O’Donnell £400 and disqualified him from driving for three years.

The defendant must re-sit his test before being granted a driving licence again.