A court has heard a driver with two flat tyres drove into oncoming traffic in Enniskillen, and was driving under the influence of drugs.

At Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday, it was heard the incident occurred at around 3.40pm on March 6, 2021, at Wellington Road in the town, which resulted in a road traffic collision between a Volkswagen Golf and a horse lorry.

The horse lorry was travelling along Wellington Road in the direction of Sligo Road when the Golf turned right out of a car park, head-on into oncoming traffic, and collided with it.

The Golf’s driver – Christopher Small (22), of Clon Close, Belturbet, Co. Cavan – was unsteady on his feet, was talking a lot and his speech was slurred. 

He passed a preliminary breath test, but was arrested for being unfit to drive through drink or drugs. The car he was driving also had two flat tyres.

A blood specimen was taken from Small, and analysis showed there were drugs present in his system.

Small did not comment during his first interview and failed to return for a further interview after the analysis was complete.

His barrister, Michael Boyd, asked the court to give Small credit for his immediate pleas, and said that Small apologised profusely.

He said Small was going through a particularly tough time, and was relying on prescription medication at the time.

Mr. Boyd added he hoped it would be the first and last time his client would be before a criminal court.

Deputy District Judge Phillip Mateer took into account Small’s guilty pleas, and his lack of a criminal record.

However, he pointed out that there were drugs in the defendant’s system, and that he was oblivious to the fact he had two flat tyres. He said Small presented a real danger to other road users.

For careless driving, driving when unfit, and using a vehicle in a dangerous condition, Small received a two-year driving ban, and £600 in fines.