A Magheralin woman has been fined and disqualified from driving after crashing into a lamppost while over twice the legal limit.
Bernice Quinn, 57, of Ballynadrone Meadows, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday, charged with driving with excess alcohol in breath, alongside charges for failing to stop, remain and report at the scene of an accident.
A further charge of driving when unfit was withdrawn.
The court heard that on November 26, 2024, police received a report of a road-traffic collision in Magheralin.
They were told the female driver of the car, which had crashed into a lamppost, was displaying symptoms of intoxication.
Police attended and located parts of the vehicle at the scene, before going to Quinn’s address, who was the last registered keeper of the vehicle.
When police arrived, Quinn was stationary in the car in the driveway. Both airbags had been deployed and there was substantial damage to the front of the vehicle.
There was also a strong smell of alcohol emanating from Quinn, who subsequently failed a preliminary breath test and was arrested for driving with excess alcohol.
The lower evidential alcohol reading taken was 73 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit in Northern Ireland is 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.
Quinn was later interviewed, stating she was obstructed by the sun and crashed into the lamppost, adding: “I really didn’t think I was over the limit.”
She added that she only lived around the corner and thought she could get the car back home.
Quinn’s defence solicitor noted that his client, who had pleaded guilty, would have difficulty getting around without a car due to health issues, and has had to rely on taxis since the incident.
District Judge White noted that Quinn, who had a previous drink driving conviction in 2017, was more than twice the legal limit.
He said: “She was more than twice the limit, which casts grave doubt on the idea she thought she was fit to drive.”
Judge White fined Quinn a total of £450, alongside the £15 offender levy.
She was also disqualified from driving for three years and three months.
