Man found sitting in parked car in a daze

James Patrick Murray (42), Clonmeen, Craigavon, admitted being in charge of a vehicle with excess alcohol in his breath on August 23 this year.

He was fined £200 last Friday at Craigavon Magistrates Court and banned for nine months.

The court heard that at 3.35am in William Street, Lurgan, police saw a car parked half on the kerb and half on the road.

The defendant was in the driver’s seat and he appeared to be in a daze and there was a smell of alcohol on his breath. The car keys were inside the vehicle.

He failed a breath test and an evidential test gave a reading of 100 - the limit is 35.

Murray said: “I deserve everything I get. I broke the law and did wrong.”

Mr Conor Downey, defending, said Murray had been out with friends and was informed there had been some vandalism to vehicles.

He added the defendant went to check if there was any damage and the police came along.