A Lurgan woman was caught almost twice the limit after police observed her make a u-turn and cross the central line of a road several times.
The 42-year-old’s solicitor told court: “She had been at a friend’s house for a meal and she foolishly believed she was below the limit but should not have taken the chance.”
Louise Marie Greene, 42, of Belvedere Manor, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol at Craigavon Magistrates’, sitting at Lisburn on Wednesday, via videolink from her solicitor’s office.
Proscution outlined that on May 8, at 10.50pm, police on patrol observed a car make a u-turn on Avenue Road in Lurgan.
They followed and witnessed the vehicle cross the central line multiple times, before signalling for it to stop.
The driver was identified by officers as the defendant and upon speaking to her they detected a smell of alcohol.
A preliminary breath test was conducted resulting in a fail at the roadside.
Whilst in custody, an evidential sample of breath was obtained which gave a reading of 66mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.
Defence solicitor Bronagh McPartland stated: “This is a 42-year-old single parent with two young children. She has a clear record and comes before the court with no points on her licence.”
She added that the defendant works for a bank in Belfast and that the loss of her licence will have an impact.
Ms McPartland continued: “Her children attend a school in Derrytrasna to which there is no bus, she has mobility issues also and she is awaiting a hip replacement, for which she regularly attends Craigavon Area Hospital.
“I ask that she is given credit for her guilty plea. She had been at a friend’s house for a meal and she foolishly believed she was below the limit but should not have taken the chance.”
District Judge Amanda stated: “I will give her credit for her guilty plea and lack of record.”
Greene was disqualified from driving for 12 months and was ordered to pay a fine of £150, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within eight weeks.
The defendant was certified for the drink driving course which would see her ban reduced to one of nine months upon completion.
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