‘By the grace of God’ no-one was killed, says judge as Derry driver is banned
Leona Barr fined £200 and stripped of her licence at Derry Magistrate's Court.
A woman has appeared at Derry Magistrate's Court charged with dangerous driving and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Leona Barr (38) of Gelvin Gardens in Derry was charged with the offences that occurred on May 15 this year after a report was made to police about a possible drunk driver.
Police located the vehicle and noticed it swerving from one side of the road to the other.
Police stopped the vehicle and noticed a small bottle of alcohol in the seat. They also say they could smell intoxicating liquor.
Barr refused a breath test and was subsequently arrested. She later gave a reading of 93mgs.
Defence Barrister Fergal McCormick said that this was 'a one-off incident' and said that there was a 'very troubling' background as Barr was, at the time, in an abusive relationship.
The court also heard that Barr claims to have taken a panic attack while driving and had taken a drink to calm herself before falling asleep in the car, waking up and driving away.
District Judge Ted Magill noted that Barr's last arrest was in 2015 for driving with no insurance.
He added that it was just 'by the grace of God' that nobody had been killed or injured in this incident.
She was disqualified from driving for eighteen months and fined £200.