A motorist who thought she was all right to drive after a few drinks has appeared before a recent sitting of Fermanagh Magistrates Court charged with driving with excess alcohol.

Before the court was Karen Scourfield (42) from Mullygarry, Enniskillen who was fined £275 and was disqualified from driving for 12 months by Resident Magistrate Liam McNally.

The court heard that on 11th November last year people were informed that the driver of a silver Peugeot car may have consumed alcohol.

While driving along the Irvinestown road police met this vehicle, driven by the defendant, and turned their police vehicle and followed the defendant signalling for her to stop.

She drove on towards Enniskillen and stopped at the Cherrymount roundabout where police spoke to her and asked her to complete an evidential breath test, which she failed.

The defendant was arrested and taken to Enniskillen Police Station where she provided two evidential specimens of breath, the lower reading being 57mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath - 22 in excess of the limit.

Defending, Aubrey Murray told the court his client was a single lady with a clear record who was 'ashamed and embarrassed' to come before the court.

Mr Murray said his client had been out socialising with friends and had a small number of drinks over the course of the evening, and thought she would still be under the limit, and OK to drive.

Mr Murray said his client was a shop manager and that this was her first time before the courts.