Man who drank after funeral banned from driving for four years

Chris Donegan • Published 12 Jan 2012 17:30

A mourner had two pints after a funeral and was stopped by police as he foolishly drove the 100 yards home, Fermanagh Court has heard.

Francis Ignatius Quigley, of Fortlea, Derrylin, was sentenced to four months' imprisonment, suspended for two years and banned from driving for four years.

District Judge Liam McNally reminded Quigley that this was his third conviction for drinking and driving since 2002.

He said the only reason he was suspending the prison sentence was because Quigley had admitted his guilt.

"If you had contested the case or prevaricated in any way I would have sent you straight to prison," he told him.

"It's now time for you to stop driving while under the influence of alcohol," added the District Judge.

Outlining the circumstances of the case, a prosecutor told Fermanagh Court that at 3.30pm on December 18, police on mobile patrol in Derrylin saw a BMW car travelling very slowly along the Main Street and crossing the central white line.

They stopped the car and spoke to Quigley, who failed a preliminary breath test. He was arrested and brought to Enniskillen Police Station where an evidential sample produced an alcohol reading or 61 - 26 in excess of the legal limit of 35.

Defence solicitor, Mr. Myles McManus, said that on the day in the question Quigley had been to a funeral. He had two pints in the Mountview Hotel and foolishly got back into the car to drive approximately 100 yards to his house.

Mr. McManus added: "Given his age, he has absolutely no interest in driving a vehicle again."

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