A Strabane man who was at a function in a Fermanagh Hotel where he fell out with his girlfriend and decided to drive away has been handed a driving ban for drink driving.

In the early hours of September 25, 2022 police received a report that a male had left the Manor House Hotel driving an Audi A4 and was suspected of being drunk.

When police responded they discovered James Paul McDermott (35), with an address of Springhill Park, Strabane, parked on a side road off the Killadeas Road.

The lights were on and the engine was running while there was a smell of intoxicating liquor and McDermott's speech was slurred.

He told police he had an argument with his girlfriend at the hotel and left.

Following his arrest, McDermott gave an evidential reading of 86mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

Oliver Roche, McDermott's solicitor told Enniskillen Magistrates Court that his client's girlfriend had made the phone call to police following a fallout.

He said McDermott drove a very short distance from the hotel and was highly distressed.

Mr. Roche added McDermott and his girlfriend had since made up and he commended her on the action she took.

Mr. Roche said this was a one-off for his client who had a clear record and he would not be appearing before the court again.

For driving with excess alcohol, McDermott was fined £200 and disqualified from driving for 12 months.