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Drink driver turned away from checkpoint

law

Fermanagh woman has been banned from driving following drink driving conviction.

A 44-year-old woman who had a “few glasses of wine” before being stopped by police has been banned from driving at Fermanagh court.

Catherine Reilly, who is also known as Catherine Maguire, with an address as Castle Island Court, Enniskillen, drove away from a police checkpoint and later admitted she was “nervous” when she spotted them.

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She has been banned from driving for 12 months and fined a total of £300.

A prosecutor explained that on November 16, last year, at around 10.30pm, police were performing a vehicle checkpoint on the Clones Road, Newtownbutler.

Police spotted Reilly approaching the stop before she turned and drove away. Police thought this was suspicious so followed her and indicated for her to stop.

Reilly was asked why she drove away and she replied that the had taken two glasses of wine. She then said she was nervous about being stopped by police.

The officers noted the could smell alcohol and she was asked to provide a breath sample.

She failed this and was subsequently taken to Enniskillen Police Station where she underwent a breath and blood sample.

A blood sample revealed she had a reading of 98mg, some 18mg over the legal limit.

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While police were checking her identification, they noticed her MOT certificate had expired on her car.

The court was told that Reilly has no previous offences.

Defence solicitor Michael Fahy described it as a “very unfortunate” detection after a “few glasses of wine”.

“It will have a huge impact on her work. This has been a making of her own misfortune.”

District Judge Nigel Broderick stated that he would give her credit for her clear record but that he must still disqualify her from driving.

A further charge of driving without insurance was withdrawn by the Public Prosecution Service.

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The Fermanagh Herald is published by North West of Ireland Printing & Publishing Company Limited, trading as North-West News Group.
Registered in Northern Ireland, No. R0000576. 28 Belmore Street, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, BT74 6AA