A MAN crashed his car into a roundabout close to a hospital after he left a family gathering, a court has heard.

The incident occurred on September 29 when the car that Maurice Duffy (49), of Duncairn Gardens, Belfast was driving ended up in the roundabout at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) on the Irvinestown Road, Enniskillen.

Police received a report from Duffy following the crash, telling them what had happened.

When they arrived they observed a Citroen C4 on top of the roundabout, with a male, identified as Duffy, standing at the door.

Police noticed he was unsteady on his feet, smelt of alcohol, his speech was slurred and his eyes were glazed.

Duffy admitted to driving and when he was taken to Omagh Custody Suite he gave an evidential reading of 63mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – 28mg over the limit.

Duffy's solicitor, John McCaffrey, told the court there may not have been a plea of guilty only for his client had made admissions before and after caution to driving, adding that he had co-operated fully with police.

Mr. McCaffrey said Duffy had been on a family holiday, and words had been exchanged, and he "unwisely decided" to leave in his vehicle.

He pointed out that his client rang police himself, and if he had not done so, he might not have been in court, before adding that it was irrelevant at this stage.

District Judge Keown convicted Duffy of driving with excess alcohol in breath, and taking into account the aggravating feature of a car lodged on top of a busy roundabout, he banned him from driving for 12 months, and fined him £300.