Eugene Anthony McMahon, aged 67, from Pinebank in Craigavon, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court charged with driving with excess alcohol in his breath and not having a driving licence. Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to NorthernIrelandWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you. The court heard that on June 18 this year at around 5pm, police received a call from staff at Eurospar on Gilpinstown Road, Lurgan.
Advertisement Advertisement “They advised the defendant had been in the store and they believed he was under the influence of alcohol. The defendant left the store and got into the driver’s seat of a grey BMW with the registration mark given,” said the prosecutor. "Checks showed the vehicle was insured to the defendant and attended the defendant’s home address.
They spoke to the defendant. His speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet,” she said, adding that McMahon failed a preliminary breath test plus police checks found he did not have a driving licence. An evidential reading showed McMahon had 129 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.
During interview he admitted not having a licence but denied driving with excess alcohol. The prosecutor said: “He stated that after attending Eurospar he went home and consumed three quarters of a bottle of vodka.” Advertisement Advertisement McMahon’s solicitor said his client, who pleaded guilty to both charges, was aged 67 and had only one entry on.