‘Half the town goes down there’ says man who ignored sign

Shaun Donnelly (25), Willowfield Crescent, Moyraverty, was banned for three months for driving without due care and attention on February 3.

He was also fined £200 for the offence and £120 for having a defective tyre.

The court heard that around 10.40pm the defendant was seen driving along North Street towards Church Place.He continued past a road closed sign before being stopped by police in Market Street. The rear nearside tyre was defective.

Donnelly told police: “Sure half the town goes down there.”

The court heard that there was a road closed sign in place and the only people who could go past it were residents and owners of premises.

A barrister said it was not the worst case of careless driving a court had seen.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said Donnelly had ‘a poor attitude’. Later in the court Donnelly was given leave to drive pending an appeal.