Enniskillen Magistrates Court heard on Monday that police were on patrol on Wellington Road, Enniskillen at 1.55am on November 6th when they stopped at traffic lights and noted that the Toyota Auris car beside them had no lights on. Officers beckoned to the driver who appeared unable to turn on the lights and the car began to roll backwards.    

Police signalled for the car to stop and when they spoke to the driver, Garret Gavin, they noticed that his eyes were glazed. 

Gavin (19) of Corbally Road in Fintona failed a breath sample test at the roadside. He was conveyed to Enniskillen Police Station where he returned an evidential reading of 64 micrograms in 100ml of breath, 29 micrograms in excess of the legal limit. Gavin was charged with driving with excess alcohol in breath and without insurance after it was discovered that he was not named on the insurance policy for the car.   

Defence solicitor Tommy Owens said his client, who works as a labourer, had been driving his friend’s car at the time of his detection. 

“His friend had had too much to drink on the night in question and my client volunteered to drive the car for him without thinking of the consequences. He was not familiar with the car but this was an act of a good Samaritan.”

Mr Owens added that Gavin’s insurance policy did not cover him to drive his friend’s car. 

District Judge Nigel Broderick said he would give Gavin credit for his early plea and clear record but added that he must impose a driving disqualification. For drink driving, Gavin was fined £200 and banned from driving for one year and the judge also agreed to certify him for the drink driving course. A further £100 fine and concurrent six month driving ban was imposed for having no insurance.