A man who had been out with friends at a pub in Portadown in the approach to Christmas was caught sitting in a vehicle whilst more than three times the drink drive limit.
Edmund Jones (59), of Kingsway Drive in Lurgan, was detected in a car park in Portadown around 6pm on December 22 last year.
He had an alcohol in breath reading of 114mcgs – the legal limit is 35mcgs.
He admitted being in charge of a vehicle whilst having excess alcohol in breath.
Craigavon Magistrates’ Court was told police received a call that a male had left a pub and had got into the driver’s seat of a vehicle and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.
When police arrived the defendant was in the driver’s seat with the key in the ignition but the engine was not on. He had slurred speech.
A defence solicitor said the defendant drives his mother – aged 89 – to medical appointments.
He had been planning on leaving the car overnight in Portadown but received a message that his mother “wasn’t well” and had gone back to the vehicle but had not driven off at that stage.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan told the defendant the court’s “major focus” is “your mother” and “taking you off the road today might completely disadvantage this elderly lady”.
The defendant was given 10 penalty points and was fined £600.
