Police saw man leave pub and drive his car

Ronald Morton Weir (48), Ashleigh Meadows, Rathfriland, admitted driving while unfit on December 21 last year when he appeared last Thursday at Banbridge Magistrates Court.

He was fined £350, ordered to pay a £15 offender’s levy and banned from driving for 16 months. On completion of a course for drink driving the ban would be reduced to 12 months.

The court heard that police on mobile patrol in Rathfriland at 11.48pm saw the defendant come out of a bar and get into a car.

They signalled for him to stop but he drove on and took speed bumps at an excessive speed causing the car to bump in the air.

Police spoke to the defendant at his home and there was a strong smell of alcohol on his breath and he was unsteady on his feet.

Weir was arrested and at the police station he provided a blood sample which gave a reading of 203, 123 in excess of the limit.

A solicitor representing the defendant said he had been in the public house and taken a number of drinks with the intention of taking a taxi home.

But when he could not get a taxi, added the solicitor, he foolishly decided to drive the short distance to his home.

He said Weir had no record and was deeply ashamed of what had happened.

District Judge, Mr Paul Copeland, said he was concerned with the reading which was significant and evidence of the consumption of a large quantity of alcohol.