A 28-year-old woman has been banned from driving for 14 months after pleading guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

Anne Marie Maughan, of Lakeview Court in Craigavon, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court where she admitted the offence.

The court heard police received a report shortly before 3.30am on 19 December of a suspected drink-driver at a 24-hour service station on Bridge Street in Portadown.

Officers traced the vehicle to a house in Craigavon. When Maughan answered the door she initially claimed the car's owner was in Banbridge. She later admitted she had been the driver. Police noted two open cans of Rockshore lager in the living room.

An evidential breath test recorded 60 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.

Solicitor Pat Vernon told the court his client was a single mother of three young children. He said she had been drinking earlier that evening and went to bed. She woke later, felt fine, and drove to a local garage to buy cigarettes. Her children were staying with her mother in Cavan at the time.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan said the late guilty plea, after contesting the charges, meant a longer disqualification period. He fined Maughan £285 and imposed a £15 offender levy.