Donegal man receives 18 month driving ban after 'losing control of the vehicle'

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

Terrance Lafferty (43) of Carndonagh was charged after police were called about a car with a Donegal registration driving across the road on April 14 after the driver lost control of the vehicle.

Police approached the car after it had parked outside a shop and found Lafferty in the driver's seat. He submitted to a breath test and gave a reading of 110 which is three times the legal limit. 

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said that Lafferty has been 'driving for twenty years' and was 'deeply sorry' for what had happened, telling the court that he had simply met a friend and 'had far too much to drink'.

He was disqualified for eighteen months and fined £300.