Drink driver claimed he had taken alcohol at friend's house to 'appear sociable'

A MAN who said he took drink at a friend's house to "appear sociable" was detected driving over the limit in Antrim town.

Noel McGinley (28), a bricklayer, of Raceview, Muckamore, was slurring his words and there was a smell of alcohol when police spoke to him in a van in the Corbally Park area of Antrim at 12.40am on March 14 this year.

A defence lawyer said the defendant had gone to a friend's house in Whitehead and had not intended to drink "but to appear sociable" had taken alcohol.

He had an alcohol in breath reading of 79 - the legal limit is 35.

The lawyer said the defendant was aware his actions in driving after drinking were "selfish and idiotic".

District Judge Nigel Broderick said it was a "high reading" and banned the defendant from driving for 16 months along with a £400 fine.