Award-winning cop Patrick Raftery, wins back licence in court appeal after being caught drink driving

A former cop who saved two women from a car that plunged into the Tweed River has appeared in a Lismore court to fight for his licence. Here’s what happened.

Patrick Raftery, 59, outside Lismore Local Court on Wednesday.

A former Murwillumbah police officer honoured with a bravery award for saving two women trapped in a car that plunged into the Tweed River has appealed a licence suspension after he was caught drink driving.

Patrick Raftery, 59, appealed the suspension at Lismore Local Court on Wednesday.

It came after he was issued a notice of suspension for low range drink driving.

Raftery left the police force in May last year, and the court heard that none of the police prosecutors wanted to prosecute the case.

The Clothiers Creek man, who represented himself, told Magistrate Michael Dakin he was pulled over for a random breath test just three kilometres from his home after he attended a Christmas celebration on December 22

“I wasn’t thinking straight at the time. I was a bit embarrassed,” he said.

Patrick Raftery, 59, appealed his licence suspension at Lismore Local Court on Wednesday.

Mr Dakin said the former police officer had a “had a fairly high bar to cross” to get his licence suspension overturned as the matter stood.

Raftery handed up a stack of character references.

Mr Dakin said the former police officer could have been given the benefit of a non-conviction because of his record and his driving history.

Senior Constable Patrick Raftery was awarded a bronze medal for his work to help rescue the two women at Condong, near Murwillumbah, on September 23, 2016.

Patrick Raftery at Cabarita Beach in an archive photo. Picture: John Gass

The court heard Raftery was dealing with “significant health issues”.

He needed to drive long distances to receive medical care.

Mr Dakin found there was “exceptional circumstances” and quashed the licence suspension.