A Moy man caught driving whilst almost twice the legal limit has been handed a 12 month disqualification.
The 25-year-old substitute teacher’s barrister told court his client had “caused embarrassment to himself and his family, and had also set a poor example for the children he teaches”.
Donal Rafferty, of Diamond Court, had a plea of guilty entered on his behalf to driving with excess alcohol at Armagh Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Newry, on Tuesday.
Prosecution outlined that on April 19, at 1am, police stopped a Volkswagen Golf with a defective headlight on Upper Irish Street, Armagh.
Officers spoke to the driver, who was identified as the defendant, and a smell of intoxicating liquor was detected.
A preliminary breath test was conducted resulting in a fail, with an evidential sample obtained in custody giving a reading of 67mgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath.
Defence barrister Conor Coulter informed court that his client, a current substitute teacher, appeared with no record.
He stated: “He would wish to apologise to the court. He is ashamed of his behaviour. This has caused embarrassment to himself and his family, and had also set a poor example for the children he teaches.”
Deputy District Judge Laura Ivers disqualified Rafferty from driving for a period of 12 months and ordered that he pay a fine of £200, along with the offender’s levy of £15.
The defendant was certified for the drink driving course which would see his ban reduced to one of nine months upon completion.
