A TEMPO woman who took a car and drove it around a roundabout in Irvinestown with a man hanging out of it was over three times the legal drink driving limit.
Maeve McCaffrey (20) of Edenmore Lane in Tempo pleaded guilty to drink driving, taking a vehicle without authority, and having no insurance at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday.
On April 8th this year police on mobile patrol in Irvinestown saw a car driving around a roundabout with a young man’s legs hanging out of the car. He was holding on to the inside to stop himself falling out.
When officers stopped the car McCaffrey was seen moving out of the driver’s seat to the passenger side. When she got out of the car she was unsteady on her feet and police could smell drink from her.
Police then spoke to the registered owner of the car who told them she had been the designated driver for the night and she had stopped to get food. She said when she went into get food McCaffrey had been in the passenger seat. When she came out her car was gone.
McCaffrey was arrested and breathalysed, returning an evidential reading of 122 micrograms per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.
Defence solicitor Michael Fahy said McCaffrey, who had one previous relevant conviction, “should know better.” He said after her previous conviction she had lost long-standing employment and now worked two jobs.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said McCaffrey’s reading had been “very, very high” and she had put someone else in danger. He fined her a total of £350 and disqualified for three years.
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere