Queens player banned from driving

Nov 25 2009 by Doug Archibald, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

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QUEEN of the South defender Marc McAusland has been banned from driving after he caused a booze-fuelled crash which left a passenger injured.

The 21-year-old was driving along Station Road in Paisley at 5am when he lost control of his car and ploughed into another vehicle.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard how McAusland, who was more than two times over the legal drink-drive limit, swerved his car on to the wrong carriageway just as a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction approached.

A passenger in the car being driven by the former Saints defender suffered injuries as a result of the impact but did not require hospital treatment.

The court was told on Friday that McAusland, who lives in Paisley, had been out socialising the previous evening and felt he had waited long enough for the effects of the alcohol to wear off.

Defence agent Gordon Ritchie described the incident as a classic morning after offence and a serious miscalculation by McAusland.

He added that the footballer, who came through the ranks at St Mirren and went on to join Queen of the South in the summer, had a bright future in the sport.

McAusland admitted driving carelessly, causing the collision which resulted in damage to the vehicles and injury to his passenger, and driving with 79 microgrammes of alcohol in his breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35 microgrammes. The offences took place on Sunday, November 1.

Sheriff George Kavanagh imposed fines totalling £800 and ordered the accused to pay this sum within 28 days. He also disqualified McAusland from driving for a year.

McAusland made his competitive debut for St Mirren during a 2-0 SPL win over Gretna at Love Street in March last year. His form in a Saints shirt also earned him call-ups to the Scotland Under-21 squad earlier this year for two UEFA qualifying games against Albania.

He quit St Mirren under freedom of contract and signed for Queens where he has been a regular in defence this season.