A Dungannon man has been banned from driving for five years after taking his mother's car without permission and driving while more than four times over the legal alcohol limit.

Cathal Daley, 36, of Mullybrannon Road, appeared before Dungannon Magistrates Court on charges of driving with excess alcohol in breath, having no insurance, and taking a vehicle without authority. The offences occurred on the morning of August 17.

The court heard that police stopped a VW Jetta approximately six miles from the Ballygawley roundabout. The male driver, who was topless, was seen jumping from the driver's seat into the passenger seat.

Daley initially refused a preliminary breath test at the roadside but cooperated with police in custody. He later provided an evidential specimen showing a reading of 145 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Further police enquiries revealed that Daley had taken the vehicle without the owner's permission and had no insurance. He gave a no comment interview.

A defence solicitor told the court that Daley had been caught red-handed and that the reading was "egregious". He said the vehicle belonged to Daley's mother and that Daley is currently serving a three-month jail sentence for other matters.

The District Judge remarked that Daley was over four times the legal limit. In addition to the five-year driving ban, Daley was sentenced on all three charges.