Jail, ban and exclusion order for drink-driving visitor

An Irish visitor to the Festival of Motorcycling has been jailed, a day after he was caught three times over the drink-drive limit.

50 year old Joseph Christopher Boyne of St Endas Road in Dublin was riding a Honda Fireblade when he was stopped by police at Cronk ny Mona on the Mountain Road at 11.55am on Monday.

The court heard he smelled of alcohol and had glazed eyes - a breath test at police headquarters gave a reading of 103 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 35.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes was told he was a regular visitor to the Island who'd wanted to watch Monday's action at the Creg ny Baa but got on his bike when the session was cancelled.

Boyne's advocate told the court his client was truly remorseful and wanted the matter dealt with quickly as he was due to leave the Island this week.

He said Boyne had no previous drink-drive convictions and had offered to leave his bike on the island as collateral should a fine be imposed.

Mrs Hughes said drink-driving was especially dangerous on the Mountain Road during race festivals, and the offence was aggravated by his high reading early in the day.

She jailed him for eight weeks, banned him from driving for five years and excluded him from the Island for five years.