BALLYMENA: A nurse from Antrim who drove through a police checkpoint at 1.40am with a breath alcohol reading of 79 - more than twice the legal limit of 35 - was banned from driving for 13 months and fined £420. Arnold Mupani (51) also admitted failing to comply with a direction from a police officer and failing to wear a seat belt.

DOWNPATRICK: A woman serving a life sentence for a 2004 murder was handed an additional six-month prison sentence after admitting being unlawfully at large for several days in August last year. Alison Michelle McDonagh (52), of Arthur Street in Newry, had breached her licence conditions by leaving her supported living address and failing to make required contact with Hydebank women's prison before being arrested at The Mall in Newry.