Irish contractor fined and banned for drink driving and speeding

An Irish contractor working at Sullom Voe was fined and banned for driving offences by Lerwick Sheriff Court today.

Craig Andrew Fitzpatrick, 37, whose address was given as St Annes, Kilmaine, Clare Morris, Co Mayo, pleaded guilty to driving with 62 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

The legal limit is 35. He also admitted driving at 60mph in a 30mph limit. Both offences were committed in Lerwick’s Holmsgarth Road in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The court heard that Fitzpatrick, who now lives in privately rented accommodation in Mossbank, was stopped at 2.50am by police due to the manner of his driving. He had been trying to get back to Mossbank to see his girlfriend and when he could not get a taxi he started to drive.

Defence solicitor Tommy Allan said that if Fitzpatrick lost his licence it could be “catastrophic” for his employment.

Sheriff Graeme Napier suggested Fitzpatrick, a machine operator who pays maintenance to two children in Ireland, carry out unpaid work instead of paying a fine. However Fitzpatrick opted to pay a fine of £900, of which £300 is to be paid withing two weeks and the remainder at £100 per month.

Fitzpatrick was also disqualified from driving for two years with immediate effect. This ban will be reduced by six months if he completes the Vernon Manfield course for drink drivers.