A MAGUIRESBRIDGE woman who was detected driving while more than three time over the legal limit has been disqualified from driving for three years. 

Bernadette Hannigan (51) of Drummeer Road, Drumgoon, Maguiresbridge pleaded guilty to drink driving at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday, after being arrested on February 27. 

At around 3.30pm police responded to a report of a possible drink driver on the road in Enniskillen. They found Hannigan, who had been driving a van, stopped at traffic lights on the Dublin Road in the town. The keys were out of the ignition of the van, and Hannigan was in the passenger seat, however she admitted to police she had been driving. 

Police noted that Hannigan’s eyes were red, her speech was slurred, and her breath smelled of alcohol. When arrested and tested at Enniskillen Police Station, Hannigan, who had one previous conviction for drink driving from three years ago, returned a reading of 113 micrograms per 100ml of breath. The legal drink driving limit is 35 micrograms. 

Defence solicitor Niall Bogue said Hannigan had completed her previous driving ban without incident, and explained to the court his client had “difficulties” with alcohol and was seeking treatment for these issues. He said at the time of the incident Hannigan’s brother had fallen ill abroad and “in the aftermath of a difficult time she sought solace in alcohol.”

Mr Bogue said Hannigan had made full admissions to police and, although she had previously completed it successfully during her previous ban, asked Judge Terrence Dunlop to certify her for the drink driving course, which would reduce any disqualification by 25 per cent. 

Judge Dunlop said because it was her second drink driving conviction he was obliged to disqualify Hannigan from driving for three years, however he agreed to certify her for the drink driving course. He also fined Hannigan £300.