AN ENNISKILLEN father who said he dropped everything while having a few drinks at home to pick up his distressed daughter has been disqualified for drink driving.
Ramunas Armalis, (37), of Lackaboy View, Chanterhill, appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court
on Monday where he pleaded guilty to a charge of drink driving.
Police had been on patrol on the Tempo Road in Enniskillen on September 20th when they noticed a BMW sitting stationary with its lights on.
When they stopped to see if the driver was OK, the car moved off into Burrendale and reversed into a driveway.
When the officers spoke to the driver, Armalis, he was breathalysed, returning a reading of 47 micrograms per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.
Defence solicitor Gary Black said Armalis had been at home with his wife when they got a call from their daughter who had been out in Enniskillen town.
She was walking home alone and was distressed, telling her parents she was concerned about a man who was in the area.
“Without thinking he jumped up and went out in his slippers,” said Mr Black, who added Armalis had only driven around 200 yards.
Mr Black added Armalis had returned a low breath reading, and could have opted for a blood test to confirm if he was over the limit, but declined.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said that Armalis had entered an early guilty plea, had a low reading, and had driven a short distance.
Judge Ranaghan fined the defendant £175 and he disqualified him from driving for the minimum of one year.
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Posted: 9:11 am October 18, 2019