A 19-YEAR-OLD man described by his solicitor as a “good Samaritan” for giving a drunk friend a lift home following a night out has himself been prosecuted for drink-driving.

Garret Gavin, of Corbally Road, Fintona, was charged with driving with excess alcohol in his breath and using a motor vehicle without insurance at Wellington Road, Enniskillen on November 6, 2016.

Gavin entered guilty pleas to both charges when he appeared before Fermanagh Magistrates Court on Monday.

The court heard that, at 1.55am, a police mobile patrol was stopped at a set of traffic lights on Wellington Road when officers observed that the vehicle behind had no lights on.

Upon speaking to the defendant, who was driving the car, it became apparent that he did not know how to switch on the lights or apply the handbrake, as the vehicle began to roll back.

After noting that his eyes were glazed, officers asked Gavin to submit to a preliminary breath test. He was failed this and was arrested.

Following his arrival at Enniskillen custody suite, checks confirmed that the defendant was not named on the vehicle’s insurance policy. He was further arrested for this offence.

An evidential breath test returned a reading of 64 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath – a total of 29 micrograms in excess of the legal limit.

Defending solicitor, Tommy Owens, told the court that his client, a labourer by trade, had been out in Enniskillen with a friend who had too much to drink and, without thinking of the consequences, had volunteered to drive his friend home.

Describing the defendant as a “good Samaritan”, the solicitor said that he was unfamiliar with his friend’s car and that was why the lights had not been on.

Mr Owens said that Gavin had been insured at the time of the incident, but unfortunately his policy did not cover him as he was not driving his own car.

District judge, Nigel Broderick, gave credit for the early guilty pleas and clear record, but observed that there would have to be a disqualification.

The judge imposed fines totalling £300, a £15 offender levy and a 12-month driving ban, until retested.

Mr Broderick also certified the defendant as a suitable candidate for the drink driving course and will be eligible for a discount on his ban of up to 25 per cent upon successful completion.