A DRUNK woman found slumped over the steering wheel of her parked car after a staff night out in Enniskillen had been making efforts to get a lift home, Fermanagh Magistrates Court has heard.

Ciara Marie Meehan (28), of Ely House, Main Street, Derrygonnelly, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a motor vehicle with excess alcohol in her breath on February 26, 2017.

The court heard that, in the early hours of the morning, police had been on mobile patrol at Castle Street car park in Enniskillen.

They observed a female slumped over the steering wheel of a parked Volkswagen Golf.

Her seat belt was on and the keys were in the ignition, the court heard.

After failing a preliminary breath test, the defendant was conveyed to Enniskillen Custody Suite.

A further evidential breath test returned a reading of 60 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath – a total of 25 micrograms in excess of the legal limit.

Defending solicitor, Michelle McVeigh, told the court that her client had been on a staff night out in Enniskillen.

Her purse had been stolen, leaving her with no money for a taxi.

The solicitor said that Meehan had made her way back to her car to recover her handbag to phone her friends and secure a lift home.

Describing the weather as “cold and stormy”, Ms. McVeigh said the defendant had got into the car for her own safety.

She said that after 2.25am, her client had fallen asleep at the steering wheel.

In mitigation, the solicitor said that, between 1.30am and 2.25am, Meehan had made a series of calls to secure a lift.

She added that the police found her client slumped forward in the car with a mobile phone in her hand.

Ms. McVeigh admitted that the defendant had previously been disqualified in 2011 for a drink-driving offence and had left the jurisdiction soon after.

Since returning to Northern Ireland, the solicitor said that the defendant had secured two jobs.

She added that her client also helped out her father on his farm.

She told the court that the loss of her client’s driving licence would lead to the loss of her jobs.

Stressing that the defendant had “no intention” of driving the vehicle, Ms. McVeigh urged the judge to use his discretion and not impose a ban.

Deputy district judge, Liam McStay, observed that he was inclined to accept how the defendant had ended up in the vehicle.

He observed that he was also inclined to accept that she had made a series of phone calls.

However, the judge said she also had a previous conviction for drink-driving.

While acknowledging that the defendant was a “very hard-working” young woman, Mr. McStay said that, equally, she had not obeyed the laws of the road.

“The best I can do is disqualify her for a shorter period,” he said.

The judge imposed a £250 fine.

A £15 offender levy was also imposed.

The judge also handed down a three-month driving disqualification to the defendant.