Motorist doing 94mph was ‘clearing filter’

Daniel Gerard Hegarty (59), of Bancran Road, Draperstown, also received six penalty points in relation to the offence.

Prosecution counsel said police detected the defendant travelling at 94mph, 34 in excess of the speed limit at 10.10am on November 7 last year.

He said a fixed penalty could not be offered to Hegarty because of the high speed.

Defence lawyer Joe McCann said the defendant has been driving for almost 40 years and has no penalty points.

Mr McCann explained that he was a wind turbine engineer and also worked in farming and both required him to drive.

He admitted that it would be “very difficult” for the defendant to carry on working in either occupation if he was not able to drive.

Mr McCann said Hegarty was in his wife’s car in the overtaking lane and was attempting to clear DPF filter when he was detected.

He said the defendant had “lost track of the speed” he was doing.

Mr McCann pleaded with the court not to impose a disqualification.

District Judge Paul Keown remarked that the defendant did not need to be breaking the speed limit to clear a DPF filter.

Mr Keown said 94mph in a 60mph zone was a high speed but he wouldn’t impose a period of disqualification on this occasion.