An Armagh solicitor who was caught drink driving has been banned from the roads for 12 months.
Stephen Thomas Doran of Crewroe Mills, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol in his breath at Armagh Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
The incident occurred on June 4 at around 11.30am, when police attended a road traffic collision on the Battleford Road, Armagh.
Officers spoke to the 38-year-old defendant who was driving a Volkswagen Golf and submitting him to a preliminary breath test, which he subsequently failed.
Doran was taken to Banbridge Custody Suite where a second test was collected, showing him to have 58mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.
Court heard the defendant had a clean licence and has been a solicitor in Newry for the past 10 years.
Defence counsel explained that the night before this incident Doran had a “gathering at his home”.
The next morning he explained the defendant had decided to give a friend a lift home.
It was heard that Doran had not caused the accident and in fact had been stationary when the rear of his car was hit.
The defence continued, stating the defendant “believed himself fit to drive and that is why he provided a breath sample”.
He added that the loss of Doran’s licence would have “implications” on his employment as he lived in the outskirts of
Armagh and often had to travel to the Republic of Ireland for work.
Deputy District Judge Des Perry banned the defendant from driving for 12 months but certified him for the drink-driving course, which could reduce his time off the road to nine months.
Doran was also ordered to pay a fine of £500, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within four weeks.
