Enniskillen Court House RMG10
A FATHER-of-two is set to lose his job after being disqualified from driving for crashing into a church wall and leaving the scene of the accident.
Alan Morrison (49) of Bunnahesco Road, Lisbellaw pleaded guilty to failing provide a specimen, careless driving, failing to remain at the scene of an accident where damage has occurred, failing to report an accident, and failing to stop at the scene of an accident at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday.
At approximately 3am on Sunday, August 28 there was a single vehicle crash on the Derryharney Road in Lisbellaw, causing damage to the wall of a local church. The driver of the car left the scene and the damage was not reported until 10.30 the next morning.
Police enquiries revealed the driver, Morrison, had been brought to hospital with injuries consistent with a road traffic collision. He was arrested at the hospital and brought to Enniskillen Police Station. The officers noticed Morrison smelled of alcohol, however he refused to provide a breath specimen at the station.
When he was later interviewed regarding the crash, Morrison said he had been making his way home from his brother’s house and was tired at the time when he hit a kerb. He said may have fallen asleep. Morrison also said he’d intended on contacting the authorities after being treated at hospital.
Defence solicitor Niall Bogue handed a letter into court from Morrison’s employer which stated the separated father-of-two, who is the family’s main breadwinner, would lose his job if he was disqualified from driving as his licence was central to his job.
Mr Bogue told the court Morrison deeply regretted not providing a specimen, and explained the defendant hadn’t taken legal advice at the time and didn’t realise the consequences of failing to provide.
District Judge Nigel Broderick said it was “a sad state of affairs” Morrison had got himself into.
“It’s a high price to pay, but it is what it is,” said the judge. “You made these decisions and no one else.”
Judge Broderick disqualified Morrison from driving for 18 months and fined him a total of £250 on all charges, stating he was keeping the fines to a minimum given the imminent loss of his job.
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