Derry construction worker banned after drink-driving 'mistake' following night out

A man has been sentenced at Derry Magistrate's Court for driving while intoxicated as well as driving with no licence and no insurance.

Gabriel Buzincu (22) of no fixed abode was charged on February 2 after police were called to reports of a van driving rapidly.

The van was located on CCTV and was found still running and with the lights on.

Buzincu was found in the vehicle and police could smell intoxicating liquor and found two open beer cans, with Buzincu repeatedly telling police 'I speak no English'.

An initial breath test gave a fail reading and an evidentiary test gave a reading of 53mgs with the legal limit being 35mgs. 

Police also found that Buzincu had no driving licence and no insurance.

Defence solicitor Roma McGeady said that Buzincu is a construction worker who has been working in the city for two months.

She said that, on Sunday, he had a day off and went with a workmate to find a discotheque but the two eventually got separated.

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The workmate, they had agreed, was the designated driver and Buzincu made a 'foolish mistake' and tried to make his own way home as he had the keys to the vehicle.

She added that he 'apologised unreservedly' to the court and assured that he has never done anything like that before.

He was given a 15 month disqualification from driving and ordered to pay a fine of £600.