Driving instructor wins smoke bid

A driving instructor has won the right to smoke in her own car.

Lynda Wright successfully challenged a fixed penalty fine issued by Armagh Council. She had been fined twice before and faced paying up to £1,000.

Solicitor Oisin Toner said the fine was overturned because she was on her own in the car on a personal errand.

He said it would have been different if she had not owned the car. Hundreds of fines have been issued since the workplace smoking ban began in 2007.

Ms Wright had stopped at traffic lights in Armagh when she was spotted by a tobacco control officer.

Mr Toner, of Gus Campbell solicitors who defended Ms Wright, said: "There is an exception envisaged by parliament and the first part of that is the vehicle must be owned personally.

"For example, a delivery driver in a company vehicle wouldn't satisfy the condition because they don't personally own the van."