Defendant drove through red light at level crossing

Barry O’Loan, whose address was given as Derrypark Lane, Lurgan, admitted crossing the tracks at William Street on October 26 last year after a warning of the approach of a train.

He was fined £200, ordered to pay £159 costs and a £15 offender’s levy last Tuesday at Craigavon Magistrates Court.

The court heard that police received a report of a driver ignoring the red light at the crossing.

They spoke to O’Loan and he admitted he had been driving and that he had breached the sign.

He said that he was in a rush and had passed a car which was moving slowly.

Mr Paddy Moriarty, representing the defendant, said his client had been driving for 18 years and had never been in court.

He explained that O’Loan had taken on the family business a few months before this incident and had received a phone call from a shop assistant who was having some difficulties with a member of the public.

Mr Moriarty added that the defendant was trying to get to the shop as quickly as possible to sort the matter out.

Deputy District Judge Rea said O’Loan had taken an ‘horrendous risk’ and that the potential consequences of a breach of a sign at a level crossing were too obvious.