A Kinawley man who was involved in a two-vehicle road traffic collision was over twice the legal drink drive limit.

On October 15, 2022 at 9.45pm police received a report of the crash on the Ballyconnell Road, Derrylin.

On arrival just before 10pm, they observed extensive damage to two vehicles, Enniskillen Magistrates Court heard on Monday, April 3.

A preliminary breath test was taken from the driver of the Volkswagen Transporter van involved, which he passed, the court heard.

Denis Anthony Doogan (66), of Gorgesh Road, Kinawley, was the driver of the Citroen Berlingo involved in the crash. He was trapped in the driver's seat, being attended to by ambulance personnel.

When he was taken out, police detected a smell of alcohol from his breath and his speech was slurred. He failed a preliminary breath test and was arrested, the court heard.

Due to the incident he was taken to hospital and a blood sample was taken, in which there was 215mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg.

Doogan's solicitor, Myles McManus accepted it was a high reading and his client had suffered serious injuries as a result of the crash.

He said at the time, Doogan was struggling with the death of his wife, adding on the day in question he had been shopping in Ballyconnell before stopping for some drinks before the crash.

Mr. McManus said Doogan realised the error of his ways and apologised for it, and asked the court to give him credit for the early guilty plea.

District Judge Alana McSorley said it was a high reading, but taking into account Doogan's early plea and no previous record, she kept the driving disqualification to the minimum of 12 months, and a £400 fine for driving with excess alcohol in his blood.