News

Driving ban for former All Ireland minor champion who 'flipped' car while drink-driving

Peter Carragher leaving court after being banned from driving for a year
Peter Carragher leaving court after being banned from driving for a year Peter Carragher leaving court after being banned from driving for a year

A FORMER GAA All Ireland minor champion has been banned from driving after pleading guilty to crashing his car while twice over the drink drive limit.

Imposing a 16 month ban and fines totalling £350, District Judge Rosie Watters told 23-year-old Peter Carragher he was "lucky" to be standing in the dock at Lisburn Magistrates Court.

"You may not regard yourself as lucky standing there but you are lucky in that you walked away from this accident," said Judge Watters as Carragher nodded in agreement.

Earlier the court heard how police were called to the Hillsborough Road Roundabout on May 15 after a motorist spotted a car "becoming airborne and landing in its roof."

A prosecuting lawyer described how Carragher was seen "crawling" from the wrecked car but fortunately for him, all he sustained were cuts to his head and hand, adding that a breathalyser gave a reading of 76 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 ml of breath, more than twice the limit of 35.

Arrested and interviewed Carragher, from the Glassdrumman Road in Crossmaglen, admitted he had had "a couple of drinks" with friends and that he had been in his way home when the accident happened.

He later pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and dangerous driving.

His defence solicitor told the court Carragher was a trainee electrician whose job "will undoubtedly be affected" by the driving ban, adding that he had glowing references from current and previous employers as well as one from his current football coach.

Carragher, who plays Gaelic for St Mary's University college, was an All Ireland minor champion in 2009 with Armagh.