Turned away from checkpoint

Thomas McNally (33), whose address was given to the court as Parknasilla Way, Aghagallon, was fined £100 last Wednesday at Craigavon Magistrates Court for obstructing a police officer on June 30.

He was also fined £250, and ordered to pay a £15 offender’s levy, for not having a vehicle test certificate.

The court heard that around 7pm police saw a van turn away from a checkpoint on the Cornakinnegar Road. A policeman shouted for it to stop but the van drove off towards Lurgan.

They later called at the defendant’s address and found that the test certificate had expired on June 9.

McNally said he had taken the van to a mechanic to have work done on it but could not provide police with the name of the mechanic.

He later admitted he was not getting work done and should not have been driving the van.

A solicitor for McNally said the certificate was three weeks out of date. He panicked when he saw the police.

He added that the defendant then made up this story but when he realised what he had done was wrong he held up his hands.