A Portadown man who was caught over twice the limit is to appeal the forfeiture of the car he was driving on the date of detection.
The 44-year-old’s solicitor told court the incident occurred after his client had a “significant disagreement with his now ex-wife”, who co-owned the Audi car.
Wayne Fred McCordick, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to using a vehicle without insurance and driving with excess alcohol at Armagh Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Newry.
Prosecution outlined that on October 9, at 12.45am, police on patrol of Market Street in Tandragee observed an Audi being driven at speed.
Checks showed that the car was uninsured. Officers lost sight of the Audi but later caught up with it on the Portadown Road.
Police spoke with the driver, who was identified as the defendant. He smelled of intoxicating liquor and a bottle of Buckfast wine was observed on the passenger seat.
McCordick was arrested and in custody provided a sample of breath which gave a reading of 92mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – over twice the legal limit.
Defence solicitor Ciaran Downey told court that this detection was made after his client had a “significant disagreement with his now ex-wife”.
The solicitor stated that the car had previously been insured, adding that McCordick appeared before court with a clear licence and an “almost unblemished record”, having one previous driving offence dating back to 1993.
District Judge Bernie Kelly disqualified the defendant from driving for a period of 12 months and ordered that he pay a fine of £550, along with the offender’s levy of £15.
She also made an order for the forfeiture of the Audi that McCordick had been driving on the date of his detection, despite Mr Downey making representations that the car was co-owned with the defendant’s now ex-wife.
The solicitor informed court that an appeal was to be lodged in relation to the forfeiture, and McCordick was granted his own bail of £500 in order to do this.
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