Singer Shine hit with UK driving ban

Irish singer Brendan Shine was banned from driving in the UK today after pleading guilty to drink-driving.

Shine, aged 57, was stopped at his hotel in Wigan, Greater Manchester, after driving back from a charity event where he had been performing.

He was banned from driving for 12 months, fined £600 (€900), and ordered to pay £70 (€105) costs by Wigan magistrates.

The ban does not cover his native Ireland.

Gill Petrovic, prosecuting, told the court that Shine was pulled over by the police at 2.15am on Friday, March 19.

Shine was arrested and breath tests and bloods tests showed he had been driving his Isuzu Trooper and was over the legal drink-drive limit.

John Potter, defending, described it as “an unfortunate case”.

He said: “On the night he was stopped he was working in this area. “Normally he doesn’t drink very much while performing. He had three bottles of beer.

“Normally his daughter drives his vehicle to and from the concerts, but regrettably Mr Shine’s daughter was taken ill.

“She didn’t need immediate medical assistance but it was not appropriate for her to drive so Mr Shine drove.

“It was two and a half miles back to the hotel but he wasn’t aware where it was and his hesitancy in looking for the hotel drew the police’s attention to him. He was stopped in the hotel car park.”

The court heard that Shine had previously had his vehicle stolen at a concert and was therefore wary of leaving it outside the venue.

Mr Potter said: “Mr Shine regrets that decision.”

Banning Shine from driving, magistrate Mary Griffin told him: “It was a short distance you drove.

“You have shown remorse and co-operated with the courts and the police during these proceedings.

“You will be disqualified from today for a period of 12 months. You must not drive any motor vehicle on a road or any other public place in the UK for that time.

“If you drive while disqualified it is a very serious offence for which you may be sentenced to custody.”