Two-vehicle collision leads to driving ban

Twenty-four-year-old Cathal Lappin from Claremont Drive, Coalisland, was also fined £200 with a £15 offender levy for driving while having consumed excess alcohol.

East Tyrone Magistrates Court sitting in Dungannon last Friday was told that on May 8 police received a report of the collision and on arriving spoke to the defendant who was the driver of a black BMW car.

A Prosecution lawyer said police observed frontal damage to both vehicles.

He said on speaking to Lappin, officers noted a smell of intoxicating liquor and, on failing a preliminary breath test, the defendant was conveyed to Lurgan police station where he provided a specimen showing an alcoholic reading of 89mgs in breath. Counsel added that Lappin has no criminal record.

A defence solicitor said the defendant had stayed at the scene and exchanged insurance details with the other driver.

She said he was a single man and his licence would be essential for his work.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan noted 89mgs was at “the higher end of the scale”.

Disqualifying him for 16 months, Mr Ranaghan certified Lappin suitable to take part in the rehabilitation course which, if completed successfully, could entitle him to a reduction in his period of disqualification.