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Bill McAnally: Ex Narromine mayor caught three times over legal limit

A former Narromine Shire Council mayor has been convicted after he was caught driving while three times over the limit following a night out.

Former Narromine Shire Council mayor Bill McAnally has been convicted of high-range drink-driving. Picture: Facebook
Former Narromine Shire Council mayor Bill McAnally has been convicted of high-range drink-driving. Picture: Facebook

The former mayor of Narromine Shire Council has been handed a hefty fine and disqualified from driving after he was caught behind the wheel while drunk in Orange.

William Paul McAnally came to the attention of police at about 12.15am on August 9, when he was driving a Toyota ute slowly around a roundabout at the intersection of Anson and Byng streets.

“I’ve probably been drinking too much to be driving,” the 60-year-old told police as his wife watched in the passenger seat.

An initial breath test produced a positive result and McAnally was taken to Orange Police Station where he recorded a reading of 0.167 – more than three times above the legal blood alcohol limit.

McAnally’s sentence was handed down in the Orange Local Court on Monday. Picture: Dylan Robinson
McAnally’s sentence was handed down in the Orange Local Court on Monday. Picture: Dylan Robinson

McAnally, who was mayor for six years, told police he consumed an unknown number of schooners of beer and glasses of red wine between 3.30pm and midnight.

In an exchange captured on a police body worn camera, McAnally appeared unsteady on his feet and had slurred speech and glazed eyes.

He pleaded guilty to one count of high-range drink-driving when he appeared via audiovisual link in Orange Local Court on Monday.

The court heard McAnally regretted his decision to drive while drunk, had a positive standing in the community and was not driving badly when he was caught.

Magistrate David Day disqualified McAnally from driving for five months and issued an $880 fine.

McAnally was also ordered to install an alcohol interlock device into any vehicle he drives during the next two years.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/dubbo/bill-mcanally-ex-narromine-mayor-caught-three-times-over-legal-limit/news-story/ea271ffe4838a92519900c4b192f24ad