Hibs defender McCormack banned after drink driving

HIBS defender, Darren McCormack, has been fined £500 and banned from driving for 12 months after being caught driving with over twice the legal limit of alcohol in his blood.

The 21-year old pled guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today to driving with 172 milligrammes of alcohol in his blood when the legal limit is 80. He also admitted having no insurance and no licence. The offences covered John's Place, Duke Street and Leith Walk.

Sheriff Margaret Scott heard that McCormack was stopped just after midnight in his girl-friend's car on 7 February this year.

Defence solicitor, George More, said his client had had a drink and had gone to his girl-friend's flat. She was not in. He became worried and went to look for her. He told the Sheriff that McCormack was a professional footballer with Hibernian and that his take-home pay was 570 a week. He added: "Because of his attitude to this offence and the club's attitude, he does not now take a drink at all."

Mr More said McCormack, who lives in the Lochend area of the city, held a provisional licence and had taken over 20 driving lessons, but would not now be able to sit his test. His client, he added, had a previous road traffic conviction. That was for driving a moped without L plates when he was 16.

Sheriff Scott allowed McCormack to pay the fine at 10 a week.