Enniskillen Court House, RMGFH03
A FARM labourer who was more than three times over the legal drink driving limit while driving “an absurdly short distance” home has been fined and disqualified from driving for two years.
Kenneth Sheridan (50) of 33 Granshagh Road, Granshagh appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court charged with drink driving and driving without a licence.
Police operating a checkpoint on the Arney Road, Enniskillen at 1.25am on September 6 signalled for Sheridan’s silver Isuza pickup to stop, however the vehicle turned into a private laneway off the road. They approached Sheridan, and could detect a smell of drink on his breath.
Sheridan admitted to drinking in a pub in Arney that night, and failed a roadside breath test. It was also discovered his licence had expired in July. When taken to Enniskillen Police Station Sheridan returned a reading of 120 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal drink driving limit is 35 microgrammes per 100ml of breath.
David Buchanan, defence solicitor, said Sheridan had been out socialising with a friend on the night in question and had missed his lift home. “He took a chance and decided to drive the absurdly short distance home,” said the Mr Buchanan, stating Sheridan had driven less than half a mile.
The solicitor explained Sheridan’s home was up the laneway he had turned into, and he had not been trying to evade the police checkpoint.
Mr Buchanan said Sheridan lived in a rural area and losing his licence would make his job as a farm labourer difficult. He also explained Sheridan’s licence had expired due to “an administrative oversight”.
District Judge Nigel Broderick said Sheridan’s reading had been “extremely high” and even though the defendant had only driven half a mile it was still a serious offence. For drink driving he disqualified Sheridan from driving for two years and fined him £300. He fined him a further £50 for having no licence, and disqualified him for six months, with both disqualifications to run concurrently.
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