Ford Fiesta driver hit speed of 118mph on dual carriageway
A MAN who was ‘just wanting to get home’ as he had work in the morning hit a speed of 118mph.
James McCluskey (24), of Clogher Road near Royal Hillsborough, was caught at 12.35am on Saturday September 13 this year at the Lisnevenagh Road dual-carriageway between Ballymena and Antrim town.
Antrim Magistrates' Court, sitting in Ballymena on Tuesday, was told the defendant had no record and has never had penalty points on his licence. He had been in a Ford Fiesta.
A defence barrister said the defendant was "extremely apologetic" and the offence was "completely out of character". She added: "He was coming home from a friend's house. He had work the next morning and was just wanting to get back home".
District Judge Nigel Broderick said it was one of the "higher speeds" before his court. He said such a speed creates danger and there are far too many accidents in which speed is a major cause.
He told the defendant: "If you hit anyone or any other vehicle at this speed then you significantly increase the risk of serious, if not fatal, injury". The defendant was banned from driving for two months and was fined £200.