Disqualification for drunk driver who was careering ‘all over the road’

A DONEGAL man who was apprehended drink driving at Magheramason has been disqualified.

John Walker (42) from Burnfoot, appeared at Strabane Magistrates Court on Thursday via sightlink, despite isolating because of Covid. He faced a single charge of driving on the Victoria Road on September 24 whilst under the influence.

The court heard that police were alerted to Walker’s drink driving by a member of the public who contacted the PSNI to say a white van was careening “all over the road.”

When the defendant was stopped at Magheramason he was said to have appeared coherent but there was a strong smell of alcohol. He consequently failed the breath test and a number of empty alcohol cans and bottles were found under the passenger seat.

Representing himself in court, Walker was said to have no previous record.

“I was over the limit, yeah,” he told Deputy District Judge John Connolly.

The judge replied, “It is a lower reading than some of those that we have before the court.” Nevertheless, Judge Connolly banned Walker from driving for 12 months and fined him £300. “If you drive whilst disqualified, you are likely to go to prison,” he told Walker. “Just stay off the road.”