Co Tyrone man was caught driving his Audi A6 on the M1 near Portadown at 103mph, Craigavon court hears
A Co Tyrone tyre fitter was caught driving his Audi A6 along the M1 at 103mph, a Craigavon court hears
Darryl David McLernon, aged 29, of Tamlaghtmore Road, Stewartstown, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court on Tuesday (January 27) charged with speeding.
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On October 4 last year at 9.40am police were conducting speed checks on the M1 eastbound at Junction 12 with the defendant clocked travelling at 103mph.
McLernon’s barrister Mr Conor Lunny said: “It’s a high enough speed and he knows it. There was no pending deadline and he wasn’t in a rush to be anywhere. He was just giving a work colleague a lift.”
Mr Lunny said his client is a full time tyre fitter and took time off work to attend court. He explained McLernon started a new job in Dungannon town centre but raised a concern about how he gets to his work if he received a driving ban.
“Without a licence he is fearful he will lose his job,” said Mr Lunny adding his client still has the Audi A6.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said: “Your car might be able to do 103mph but that doesn’t mean you are capable to reacting if something happens at that speed.
"In fact, you are not unless you are an advanced driver,” he said. "I’m not an advanced driver. I wouldn’t be doing that either.”
The District Judge said he didn’t want McLernon to lose his job and said he would deal with it via the maximum penalty points – which are six.
"That means you keep your job but have a higher fine,” he said, fining the defendant £250 plus £15 Offender Levy.