Enniskillen Court House, RMGFH04
An 83-year-old retired teacher will probably never drive again after being banned for drink driving, Enniskillen Magistrates Court heard on Monday.
The court was told that on the evening of April 10th, police were on patrol on the Irvinestown Road in Enniskillen when they observed a silver Citroen C3 with no lights illuminated. The car was observed stopping before being reversed in to a parking space.
Police approached the car and spoke to the driver Mary Flanagan (83) of Irvinestown Road in Enniskillen. They detected a strong smell of alcohol and noted that her speech was slurred. Flanagan failed a preliminary roadside breath test. She was arrested and conveyed to Enniskillen Police Station when she returned an evidential reading of 44 micrograms in 100ml of breath, just nine micrograms in excess of the legal limit.
As it was a low reading Flanagan was given the option of taking a blood test, which she accepted. Forensic analysis of the submitted sample revealed a reading of 102 milligrammes of alcohol in 100ml of blood, a total of 22 milligrammes over the legal blood limit.
Defence solicitor Niall Bogue said his client was a retired teacher who had never been before the courts before. He added that it was due to “significant medical issues” that Flanagan found herself in court.
“She effectively has no recollection of the incident and if disqualified, it is unlikely that she will ever drive again,” he said.
Giving credit for her early plea and hitherto clear record, District Judge Nigel Broderick imposed a £200 fine and a 12 month driving disqualification.
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