A farmer, who was found driving a tractor, with an empty vodka bottle, whilst twice over the legal limit, has been handed a three-year disqualification for his drink driving offence, according to Armaghi.
The 54-year-old had a plea of guilty entered on his behalf to driving with excess alcohol at Armagh Magistrates’ at Newry on Tuesday, January 26th, 2021.
The court heard that the PSNI received a report of a male suspected of being under the influence of alcohol driving a tractor near Tannyoky Road, Poyntzpass.
Farmer drink driving
Police responded to the report and found the farmer behind the wheel of the tractor with an empty bottle of vodka. McCartney failed a preliminary breath test and was later arrested.
According to the publication, whilst the farmer was at Banbridge Custody Suite, an evidential breath sample delivered a failed reading. Afterwards, a subsequent sample of blood was taken and gave a reading of 217mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood.
Armaghi reports that along with a driving qualification, the judge ordered him to pay a fine to the tune of £400, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 26 weeks.
The court heard that George McCartney of Kilrea Hill, had one previous drink drinking offence dating back to 2017.
Defence solicitor, Ruari Gillen, said: “He was out working; he stopped off to buy a bottle of vodka and he had essentially consumed it by the time he was stopped.”
Deputy District Judge Philip Mateer said: “I have taken into account what has been said, however, this man was almost three-times the legal limit and has a previous excess alcohol within the last three years.”
Farmer caught drink driving went to check damaged tractor
Meanwhile, last September, a farmer was disqualified from driving after he was found to be almost twice over the legal limit.
Armaghi reports that Thomas Breslin, with an address at Derrylee Road, returned to his yard to check on reported damage to a tractor when he was arrested on the suspicion of being over the legal drink driving limit.
According to the publication, two samples of breath were obtained, with the lower having a reading of 68mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.
Kevin McCamley, defence solicitor told the court, “He apologises to the court for this lapse in good judgement. He instructs he drove 200 to 300 metres up the road to a friend’s house, where he had a few beers.”
“He then received a report that a window had been smashed on his tractor and he made the stupid decision to drive back to the yard. He is the sole proprietor of a farmyard and knows the inevitable outcome of today’s proceedings.”
The farmer was disqualified from driving and was handed a £250 fine. He was ordered to pay the offenders’ levy of £15, within 12 weeks.
