Enniskillen Court House
A BELLEEK man who urinated in a garage forecourt as he filled up his car while drink driving has been banned from driving for one year.
George McAndrews (50) of Blackrock Park in Belleek appeared before Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday to face two charges of driving with excess alcohol and indecent behaviour in a public place.
The court heard that plain clothed police officers were in a patrol car parked at the Topaz Filling Station on Shore Road in Enniskillen at 12.55pm on October 15th last when they observed McAndrews leaning against a wall in the forecourt and unzipping his trousers. He then was observed filling up his vehicle with fuel and entered the shop. He was noted to be unsteady on his feet and when officers approached and spoke to him they saw that his eyes were glazed and his speech slurred.
After failing a preliminary breath test, McAndrews was taken to Enniskillen Police Station where an evidential breath test returned a reading of 114mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – a total of 79 micrograms in excess of the legal limit.
CCTV footage was obtained from the premises which showed McAndrews drive into the petrol station, fill up his car and then enter the shop to pay.
Deputy District Judge Paul Conway noted that McAndrews had been “well over three times the limit” at the time of his detection.
The judge noted that most filling stations have toilet facilities that could be used in an emergency.
Mr Bogue added: “Clearly his decision making in terms of driving and relieving himself was impaired on this occasion.”
The judge told McAndrews: “This was reprehensible behaviour, driving over the limit on a Sunday lunchtime and urinating in front of members of the public and that time of day in front of children.”
McAndrews was fined a total of £350 and disqualified from driving for 12 months.
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