69 drink-drive arrests at Easter

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The PSNI arrested 69 drink-drivers over the Easter weekend.

The figure is down from last year's 85 arrests. In the same period south of the border, almost 650 people were arrested by Gardai.

David Lyle of Lyle Bailie International - which makes anti-drink drive ads - said the NI arrests were evidence that "the message is getting through".

"There has been a complete culture change in Northern Ireland over the past few years," he said.

"I am delighted that the police have caught 69 people and that they are going to be put through the courts.

"It is important that people understand that if they drink and drive they are going to be caught."

Mr Lyle said those convicted of drink-driving bore the humiliation of losing their licence for a year and re-sitting their driving test.

"Nine out of 10 people in Northern Ireland believe that drink-driving is extremely shaming - so one out of 10 people don't.

"There is still this minority of nutters and that is why the police have to keep going to catch them."

Last year, more than 5,000 people were caught drink-driving by the PSNI. In the first two months of this year, 671 have been detected.