Daily Record

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Drink-drive shame of Sir Sean's brother
05 Juli 2002

THE brother of Bond star Sir Sean Connery has admitted driving while three times over the limit. Neil Connery, 64,was caught by police a few weeks ago and appeared before a sheriff yesterday. He could now face jail. The actor's brother has already been banned for drink driving offences eight years ago. Connery, who lives in Edinburgh, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court yesterday and admitted the latest charge.

The court heard he was stopped in his Mercedes by police on the A921, in Fife, on June 16.

Police found the retired plasterer had 101 milligrammes of alcohol in his system.

Sporting a goatee beard, Connery appeared in the dock yesterday before Sheriff Stuart Forbes.

Marjory Socha, defending, entered a plea of guilty and sentence was deferred until July 30 for reports.

Connery was banned from the road eight years ago after he was caught driving in Edinburgh while over the legal limit.

At the time, he received a one-year ban and was fined £300.

Connery lives with his wife Elinor in Corstorphine, Edinburgh

He regularly appears with Sir Sean at public events.

Neil, who bears a striking resemblance to his older brother, joined Sir Sean at Holyrood Palace when he received his knighthood.

He also joined his brother and a host of stars at the premiere of Entrapment, in Edinburgh, and has publicly defended Sir Sean over allegations of wife-beating in a biography.

When Sir Sean's former wife Diane Cilento claimed he had beaten her, Neil responded: "These days, Sean's lucky to hit a golf ball."

And he responded to critics who questioned his brother's nationalistic credentials by insisting Sir Sean had given a piece of Scotland to the world.

The younger Connery brother had a short-lived film career of his own.

In the late 60s, he appeared in Italian director Dario Sabatello's flop movie Operation Kid Brother.

He also appeared in a low-budget documentary called Paisley Snail and has made a guest appearance in Taggart.

But while Sir Sean's film career soared, Neil returned to plastering, until he took a tumble off a ladder in the mid-80's, breaking his wrist and suffering a fractured pelvis in a career-ending accident.

And while Sir Sean and wife Micheline enjoy the trappings of fame with homes in the Bahamas and Los Angeles, he and wife Elinor, who have two daughters, live in a modest suburban house.

Following his last drink-driving ban, Neil apologised to his grand- children saying: "They take enough stick as it is about being related to Sean. I am truly sorry."

Yesterday, Elinor Connery refused to comment on her husband's court appearance.

She said: "We will not be making any comment about this."

Connery was ordered to reappear at Dunfermline Sheriff Court at the end of the month.