Magherafelt motorist drove at 100mph between Castledawson and Toome as she was 'desperate to get relief from dental pain'
A South Derry woman in a rush to get relief from dental pain was detected driving at 100mph on the A6 between Castledawson and Toome, the local magistrates court has been told.
A defence lawyer said the defendant encountered a long tailback of traffic in Magherafelt and wanted to get relief from the pain which had kept her up all weekend.
District Judge Conor Heaney said driving at that speed exposed the defendant and other road users to risk and despite the mitigating circumstances the court needed to deter this type of driving.
Karen Graham, aged 45, of Killowen Drive in Magherafelt, was fined £125 with a £15 offender’s levy, and disqualified from driving for seven days.
Prosecuting counsel said the detection was made on March 16 last on the A6 carriageway which was governed by a 70mph restriction.
A lawyer for Graham pointed out that she has been driving for 20 years and had no record and no points on her driving licence.
He said on this occasion she had rang dental care out-of-hours and was on her way to an appointment.
Counsel said she ended up held back by a tailback of traffic in Magherafelt and was desperate to get relief from the pain that had kept her up all weekend.
He stressed that there had been no mention by the prosecution of any other vehicles being inconvenienced as a result of the defendant’s driving.
Imposing the penalties, District Judge Heaney said the speed was “far too high”.