A motorist was found over the drink drive limit in Lurgan after being out celebrating Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League win in May this year, a defence lawyer told Craigavon Magistrates’ Court.
Defendant Stephen Lynn (50), of Lavery Avenue in Lurgan, admitted charges of driving whilst unfit and failing to provide an evidential sample.
The defendant, a joiner, was in a parked van at High Street in the town. The vehicle had a smashed headlight and a wing mirror was missing. The engine was running and the defendant was in the driver’s seat with glazed eyes and slurred speech.
He told police he had driven the van.
He had a preliminary breath sample of 97 – the legal limit is 35. He failed to provide an evidential sample at a police station.
A defence lawyer said the defendant tried to provide an evidential sample “and he couldn’t do it”.
The lawyer said the defendant had been out celebrating Spurs’ European success, and “ended up taking a number of beers, more than he should have.”
Regarding the mention of Spurs, District Judge Michael Ranaghan quipped: “I will not hold that against him”.
The defendant was banned from driving for 14 months and was fined £400.
