Drunk driver three times over the limit

A drunk driver who crashed into another car in Derry was more than three times over the legal limit, a court has been told..

David Phelan (50), of Galliagh Park in the city, appeared before Derry Magistrates Court charged with drink driving, driving without due care and attention and failing to report an accident where damage had occurred.

The offences took place on October 11 this year.

The court heard police were called to a road traffic accident by the injured party who suspected the other driver, later identified by police as Phelan, was drunk.

The motorist told police Phelan had gone into a nearby house and refused to answer the door.

The motorist said at the narrow bend in the road at The Meadows he stopped to let Phelan past.

However, Phelan collided with his vehicle.

The court heard when Phelan spoke to the other driver through the window, he said he seemed drunk and was slurring his words.

Phelan then drove to a nearby house and parked his car in the driveway and entered the house.

When police arrived, they spoke to the occupant of the house and they then went inside and saw Phelan who admitted driving.

The court heard his eyes were glazed and he was unsteady on his feet.

A breath test gave a lower reading of 111 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of breath.

No one was injured in the crash but £1,000 damage was caused to the injured party’s car.

Cathy Grant, defence solicitor, told the court Phelan had drunk five pints of Guinness while watching a rugby match but hadn’t been drinking for the two hours before driving and believed he was alright to to do so..

Ms Grant said Phelanmoved the car from the road into a driveway to stop it obstructing other traffic.

She asked that Phelan be given credit for his early guilty pleas.

District Judge Barney McElholm said Phelan had previous traffic offences but it was ‘not clear what happened in the previous case as regards disqualification’.

He added: “Obviously this will have a significant effect on what the disqualification will be in this case will be.”

The matter was adjourned to determine the position on the previous driving offences.

The case will be back before the court again on November 18.