Following a call from a member of the public that a driver may have been drinking police stopped a car and arrested an Irvinestown man for driving with excess alcohol.

Before Fermanagh Magistrates Court charged with driving with excess alcohol was thirty-six year old Enda Laurence Gallagher from Pound Street in Irvinestown.

The court heard that on 23rd September last year, around 8.30pm, police received a call from the member of the public that a driver, believed to be under the influence, was heading from Castle Hume towards Irvinestown.

Around 8.35pm police stopped a vehicle at the Round O and spoke to the driver, the defendant who they detected a smell of intoxicating liquor from.

After failing a preliminary breath test the defendant was arrested and taken to Enniskillen Police Station where he provided evidential specimens of breath - the lower reading being 44mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

The defendant availed of the facility for a blood test which revealed a reading of 96mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood.

Defending, Tommy Owens said his client was a chef and felt he was unfortunate to be over the limit as he felt he was OK after having a few cans after work.

Mr Owens explained the only reason his client was stopped was because someone had phoned the police to tell them the defendant had been drinking.

Mr Owens said his client was going to become unemployed as there was no public transport to take him from Irvinestown to where he works.

Sentencing, Resident Magistrate Liam McNally said, "I don't regard him as unfortunate. Someone with a previous drink-driving conviction who takes a vehicle onto the road after a few cans is both stupid and irresponsible'.

The defendant was fined £250 and disqualified from driving for three years.