Seven unrestrained children in vehicle

John McConaghie (50), of Bayview Villas, Glenarm, was banned from driving for one week and fined a total of 210 after admitting seven charges of carrying children between the ages of 3-14 without a seatbelt or child restraint, when his case was heard at Ballymena Magistrates Court.

The court was told that a Ford Escort driven by McConaghie was stopped by police at Crebilly Road on May 23.

In the back there were three children sitting on seats, two on their laps and two more sitting on the floor.

A defence solicitor said that McConaghie had received a call saying that his father-in-law, who was in Antrim Hospital, had “taken a turn for the worse” and McConaghie had no option but to take his wife - who didn’t drive - and his children in the car to the hospital.

The defendant owned a people carrier, which was fully fitted with proper child seats but that vehicle was off the road at the time, the solicitor added.

District Judge Des Perry described the incident as “disgraceful behaviour”, adding: “The children were being put at totally unnecessary risk”.