A 43-YEAR-OLD motorist who was more than two-and-a-half times over the legal drink-driving limit when he was stopped by police also had a small amount of cocaine in his possession, Fermanagh Magistrates Court has heard.

Paul Anthony McMahon, of Royal Oak Road, Lisnaskea, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol in his blood at Dernawilt Road, Newtownbutler, driving without due care and attention at Moorlough Road and possessing a Class A controlled drug on August 27, 2017.

In connection with a separate incident, McMahon also pleaded guilty to driving dangerously within the vicinity of the Belturbet Road, Teemore on October 17, 2017.

The court heard that, at 9.45pm on August 27, the defendant’s Toyota Avensis was observed crossing the central white line on Moorlough Road, and swerving to avoid a collision with an oncoming vehicle.

The Toyota continued weaving across both sides of the road, hitting the grass verges. Police activated their blue lights and siren.

After turning right, the car eventually came to a stop. McMahon was unsteady on his feet when exiting the car, and had to lean against the vehicle to remain upright.

Upon detecting a strong smell of intoxicating liquor from his breath, the defendant was arrested and conveyed to Enniskillen custody suite.

During a search, officers found a bag containing a small amount of white powder.

Forensic analysis confirmed this was cocaine.

A sample of his blood was found to contain 206 milligrams of alcohol in 100ml of blood – more than two-and-a-half times the legal limit.

Meanwhile, on October 17, a member of the public reported to police that a Toyota Avensis was driving dangerously on both sides of the road.

The car drove “erratically” through Derrylin and then came close to colliding head-on with a lorry, before ending up in Belturbet.

Several days later, police obtained dash cam footage of the incident from a car that had been travelling behind the Toyota between Derrylin and Belturbet.

Officers subsequently attended the defendant’s address and saw the Toyota Avensis parked at the rear of the property.

During interview, McMahon told the police that he wasn’t on the Belturbet road on the date in question.

Defending solicitor, Myles McManus, told the court that it had been “serious offending” by his client, whom he said “may have some difficulty with alcohol”.

Mr. McManus said the defendant would consent to any community-based disposal and urged the judge to treat him as leniently as possible.

Deputy district judge, Laura Ievers, observed that a Combination Order would be appropriate in the case, consisting of 100 hours of community service and two years on Probation.

The judge also banned the defendant from driving for three years and ordered him to remain disqualified until retested.