Derry man disqualified for 18 months and fined £250 for drink driving

Cathal O'Donnell (53) of Bards Hill in Derry was charged with the offence after being seen by CCTV operators on March 30 this year to be driving erratically in the city centre

A man has appeared at Derry Magistrates Court charged with driving while drunk.

Cathal O'Donnell (53) of Bards Hill in Derry was charged with the offence after being seen by CCTV operators on March 30 this year to be driving erratically in the city centre.

Upon testing, police found him to have a breath reading of 97mgs with the legal limit being 35mgs.

Defence Barrister Sinead Rogan told the court that O'Donnell had a relevant record but hadn't committed any similar offences in almost 15 years, having overcome an addiction to alcohol.

She said that he had recently relapsed after receiving some bad news but had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

He was disqualified for 18 months and fined £250.