Derry Court: Fine for woman who slept in car after row with partner

A woman who had a row with her partner while staying at a local hotel went to sleep in her car the local Magistrate's Court heard today.

Joanne Bailie (40) of Mount Merrion Gardens in Belfast admitted a charge of being drunk in charge on February 14.

The court heard that police were called to the Premier Inn in Derry at 7.20am after reports of a drunk female getting into a vehicle.

They found Bailie in the driver's seat of a car and she was described as being 'groggy'.

Initially she became 'belligerent' with police but later calmed down.

After being arrested she was breath tested and found to have a reading of 76mgs twice the legal limit.

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said that it was a classic drunk in charge case.

He said the defendant was staying with her partner at the Premier Inn and they had a row.

He said Bailie had gone to her car to sleep and had no intention of driving.

The defendant was fined £150 and given 10 penalty points.