A 51-YEAR-OLD motorist found to be over three times in excess of the legal drink-driving limit when she was breathalysed by police in the afternoon has received a three-year ban.

Bernadette Hannigan, a retired nurse of Drummeer Road, Maguiresbridge, was charged with driving with excess alcohol in her breath at Dublin Road, Enniskillen on February 27 this year.

Hannigan entered a guilty plea when she appeared before Fermanagh Magistrates Court on Monday. A further charge of driving while unfit was withdrawn.

The court heard that, at 3.30pm, police had received a report of a possible drink-driver. Upon arriving at the scene, officers observed that the defendant was sitting in the passenger’s seat of a van stopped at traffic lights on Dublin Road. The keys were out of the ignition.

The reporting person informed the police that the defendant had moved from the driver’s seat of the vehicle before their arrival, the court heard.

Hannigan admitted that she had been driving the vehicle and that there was nobody else in the van. Officers noted that she smelt of intoxicating liquor, her eyes were red and glassy and her speech was slurred.

She was subsequently taken into custody. An evidential breath test returned a reading of 113 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath – over three times in excess of the legal limit of 35 micrograms.

Defending solicitor, Niall Bogue, told the court his client had one previous conviction which “unfortunately” was for the same offence, just over three years ago.

The solicitor said that, on that occasion, she had complied fully with the disqualification and had completed the drink-driving course.

Mr Bogue conceded that the offence had been borne out of this lady’s “difficulties with alcohol” and handed in two letters to the court relating to that issue.

Outlining the background to this offence, the solicitor said that Hannigan’s brother had been “seriously ill” abroad and in the aftermath she “sought solace in alcohol”.

In mitigation, Mr Bogue said that his client had been engaging with services on an “intensive basis” to deal with her alcohol problem.

While she accepted it was a “high reading”, the solicitor said his client had made a full admission and made no attempt to evade detection.

Acknowledging that the defendant was facing an automatic three-year driving ban as it was her second conviction within 10 years, Mr Bogue urged the judge not to go beyond that.

He also asked for Hannigan to be certified for the drink-driving course, as she was seeking help and to give her something to work towards.

Deputy district judge Terence Dunlop observed that there had been a high reading in the case.

The judge fined the defendant £300, imposed a £15 offender levy and banned her from driving for three years. She must remain disqualified until retested. He also certified Hannigan as a suitable candidate for the drink-driving course. Her period of disqualification will be reduced by nine months if she successfully completes the course by May 18, 2018.