Co Armagh man caught driving at 70mph in a 30mph zone with four children in his car after leaving Tesco Craigavon, a court hears
A Co Armagh father, who drove at 70mph in a 30mph with four children in his car, has banned from driving.
Norman David Dunlop, aged 43, from Mullalelish Road, Richhill, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court charged with speeding.
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The court heard that on August 11, 2025, police were parked at Tesco underground car park in Craigavon when they spotted a Lexus and followed it onto an area of road governed by a 30mph speed limit.
"They noticed it accelerated to just over 70mph on that road. This was identified by the speedometer on the police vehicle, in which three officers were present. Police stopped the vehicle and the defendant identified himself,” said a prosecutor, adding there were four child passengers in the vehicle.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan asked: “Did I hear 70 in a 30 with four children in the car?” The prosecutor said he was correct.
Dunlop’s lawyer said: “He accepts he was in excess of the speed limit. He just doesn’t recall it being quite as high. Nevertheless, he doesn’t seek to cause issue and does accept he was over the speed limit to some degree.”
She said her client explained he had relatives in the car – one being his nephew.
“It was a foolish decision on his part to exceed the speed limit." she said, adding the defendant does slow down and doesn’t appear to have travelled a significant distance at that speed.
The lawyer said that while her client is currently not working he uses his vehicle to keep in contact with his young children.
“This is something that means an awful lot to him,” she said.
"He has managed to stay out of trouble for a significant period of time and this is the only thing pending in relation to driving,” she said.
District Judge Ranaghan said: “Driving at 70mph in a 30 with four children in a car. It has to be a disqualification.
"It would be totally inappropriate, on the basis of the facts I’ve heard, to deal with this by way of penalty points,” he said. “It would send out the wrong message.”
He banned Dunlop from driving for four weeks starting the following Tuesday to allow him time to make alternative arrangements regarding visiting his children. He was also fined £200 plus £15 offender levy.