Council leader shamed by drink drive ban

Jul 28 2010 By Russell Butt

Councillor John Furey

RUNNYMEDE Council leader John Furey was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £450 after appearing in court charged with driving over the legal alcohol limit today.

The court heard that the Conservative councillor for Addlestone Bourneside drove off from the scene of a road smash on May 16 before police arrived. His Citroen car and another vehicle crashed in Brighton Road, Addlestone, at about 6pm.

Furey admitted driving after drinking too much when he appeared at Woking Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Zeltia Carrera, prosecuting, told magistrates: "The other party involved stated that he believed the driver of the other vehicle had been drinking."

She said that Furey’s car was found in New Haw Road and he was nearby. A roadside breath-test proved positive and blood tests later showed that Furey had 88 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80mgs.

Furey, who conducted his own defence, gave the magistrates a written plea of mitigation which they read in silence.

Giving evidence, Pat Roberts, deputy leader of Runnymede Council and a friend of Furey, told the court: "I have known John Furey for six years and during that time he has worked tirelessly for the community, mostly for no financial gain.

"As leader of the council, he has given a significant proportion of his personal time, even through a period of life-threatening ill health. He realises he has been irresponsible and let himself, and his colleagues down."

Chris Gay, chairman of the bench, told Furey, "We have taken everything into consideration, and under the circumstances we will disqualify you from driving for 12 months."

He offered Furey the chance to join a drink-drivers’ rehabilitation course, which could cut his disqualification by three months. As well as the £450 fine, Fury was ordered to pay a surcharge of £15 and costs of £87.

Outside the court the council leader declined to comment and said he would make a statement at a later date.

Furey, who is also a Surrey county councillor, has had the party whip withdrawn by the county council's ruling Tory group as a result of the offence.