A 24 year old man who intentionally rammed his car into the gates of Strand Road police station in Derry has been disqualified from driving for three years.
Ciaran McGeoghegan, of Belvoir Park, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and criminal damage at Derry Magistrates Court.
The court was told that at midnight on March 18 McGeoghegan drove his car into the gates of the police station on Strand Road causing £650 worth of damage.
When police came out he said, “What kept you? I did that on purpose, were you having your tea?”
A preliminary breath test showed that he’d been drinking alcohol to which he said, “That’s dead on, I’m blocked.”
He was then arrested and later admitted the incident had been ‘the height of stupidity.’
A defence solicitor said his client had been drinking for four days prior to the incident and had rammed the gates to challenge police.
He said that no-one had been hurt and that it could have been something ‘a lot more sinister.’
Deputy District Judge Peter King said that the man was ‘obviously a menace’ behind the wheel when drunk and it had been ‘absolutely lunatic behaviour.’
McGeoghegan was disqualified from driving from three years and given a £300 fine.
He must also pay £650 compensation to the Police Board of Northern Ireland.
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