Mark McKinty: Former UUP councillor guilty of drink-driving

Mark McKinty was stopped by police in July

A former Ulster Unionist councillor who resigned after being caught drink-driving has been banned from driving for three-and-a-half years.

Mark McKinty, of Bankhall Road in Magheramorne, served on the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

Ballymena Magistrates' Court heard the 31-year-old was stopped on Ballypollard Road in Larne on 5 July at 23:00 BST.

Police said McKinty's eyes were glazed, he was slow to respond and appeared confused.

He failed a breath test at the roadside and a further test showed 118 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

The legal alcohol limit for drivers in Northern Ireland is 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

'Career in ruins'

McKinty stood down from Mid and East Antrim Borough Council on Wednesday.

His barrister told the court his client had been at a friend's house, had a drink and then made the decision to drive a short distance home.

He said his client's "budding political career lies in ruins" because of that decision.

The court heard that McKinty had been convicted of a similar drink driving offence in 2013.

The defence lawyer said McKinty had set up a restaurant in Larne but was not taking a wage from it.

He added that McKinty would no longer receive £1,100 a month as a councillor after resigning his position.

'Damaged trust'

Outside court, McKinty said he had made "a grave mistake".

He said he wanted to "issue a heartfelt and sincere apology to residents and anyone else who felt let down" by his actions.

When asked if he would return to politics in the future, he said: "That's yet to be seen."

In a statement, the UUP said McKinty had told the party his actions were "unacceptable for a public representative and damaged trust in democracy".

The party said it has started a process to fill the vacant council position.

The judge said there were two highly significant aggravating factors in the case - the high alcohol reading and the fact it was McKinty's second such offence.

He fined him £400, a £15 offender levy and banned him from driving for three-and-a-half years.