Ann White (57), from Glenfarne, Co Leitrim, was brought before Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday morning where she pleaded guilty to drink driving, having been arrested the previous night. At around 9.50pm on Sunday past, October 6th, police were on patrol on the Sligo Road outside Belcoo and they noticed a Volkswagen Golf driving without its lights on. The officers stopped the car and spoke with the driver, White, noting she smelled of alcohol. 

When arrested and breathalysed White returned an evidential reading of 74 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath, the legal limit being 35 micrograms. Defence solicitor Michael Fahy said White, who works for the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Sligo, was travelling to the cinema in Enniskillen on Sunday and had drank beforehand. He said White had only been stopped as she did not have her lights on, and pointed out she was stopped in an area with street lights. Mr Fahy said White, who appeared distressed in court, had to spend the previous night in custody at Omagh police station as it was late at night and was unable to get anyone to pay her surety, which is needed for those arrested with an address outside of the North. 

Stating a reading of White’s level normally would attract a driving disqualification of between 18-36 months, District Judge Michael Ranaghan said that because White had no previous convictions and had spent a night in custody he would reduce her disqualification to 14 months. Judge Ranaghan also fined White £200.