A MOTORIST whose driving was impaired by a mixture of prescription medication and cannabis has admitted responsibility for a two-vehicle road traffic collision in Enniskillen.

Keith Thomas Dodd (35), of Castletown Square, Fintona, County Tyrone, pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drink or drugs, driving without due care and attention at Cornagrade Road, Enniskillen, not displaying ‘L’ plates, being an unaccompanied ‘L’ driver and possessing a Class B controlled drug, namely cannabis, on May 26, 2017.

Dodd also pleaded guilty to failing to produce his driving licence or insurance.

Fermanagh Magistrates Court heard that, at 1.10pm, police were called to a two-vehicle road traffic collision at the junction of Drumcoo and the Cornagrade Road.

A Volkswagen Jetta being driven by the defendant had collided with the rear of a Mercedes, causing minimal damage.

Dodd was also found to be in possession of a quantity of herbal cannabis. He told officers it was for his own personal use.

Forensic examination of a sample of the defendant’s blood subsequently confirmed there were traces of a number of substances, including the painkiller Tramadol, sleeping tablet Zopiclone and THC, the chemical responsible for most of the psychological effects of cannabis.

This offered an explanation for the impairment of his driving, the court heard.

Defending counsel, Ciaran Roddy, told the court that his client, a provisional licence holder, had left his home alone after arguing with his partner.

The barrister said that the collision had occurred when the defendant had been in a traffic jam and the vehicles were slow-moving.

Mr. Roddy told the court that the defendant took a catalogue of medication on a daily basis due to injuries he had sustained in a serious road traffic collision.

He said that the effect of this medication was “exacerbated” by Dodd’s consumption of cannabis.

The barrister urged the judge to give his client credit for the “forthright” manner in which he had dealt with the matter.

Deputy district judge, Sean O’Hare, imposed fines totalling £900, ordered the defendant to pay a £15 offender levy and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.