A BELCOO teenager has been banned from driving for a year after crashing his car into a fence in Enniskillen while drunk.
Colm Furey (18) of Macnean Park, Belcoo appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to drink driving, driving without insurance, driving without a licence, and careless driving.
At around 2am on Monday, June 26 this year police were called to a single vehicle crash at the junction of the Drumclay Link Road and the Irvinestown Road.
When they arrived they found blue Volkswagen Passat that had crashed through a fence and a bush.
No one was in the area when they first arrived, but the officers were then approached by Furey, who was unsteady on his feet, had glazed eyes, and smelled of alcohol.
Furey shouted to police: “That’s my yoke. I just lost her, no point lying about it.”
When another crew arrived to remove the car, Furey shouted to them: “Aye, that’s my yoke. No books, no MOT, nothing on her.”
When arrested, Furey returned an evidential breath reading of 61 micrograms per 100ml of breath.
The legal limit is 35 micrograms.
Defence solicitor Barry Lynam pointed out that Furey, who was 17 at the time of the incident, had made “frank admissions” to police at the scene.
Mr Lynam said that his client, who lives at home with his parents, had never held a driving licence and had purchased the car a short time before the incident.
He said he had “foolishly took a chance” by driving it to Enniskillen where he consumed alcohol.
District Judge Nigel Broderick said he would give Furey credit for his early plea, previous clear record, and his young age.
He fined him a total of £400 and disqualified him from driving for a total of 12 months.
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