Enniskillen court house
A 24-year-old Enniskillen football coach caught by police driving 90 mph, 30 mph over the speed limit has been disqualified from driving for a month and fined £250.
In the case at Fermanagh Magistrates Court the prosecutor outlined that on July 16 of this year police were conducting speed checks on the A4 Belfast Road on the Lisbellaw side of Tamlaght at 1am when the defendant, Samantha Cheshire of Station Road, Derrycormick was clocked at the speed of 90mph, 30mph in excess of the speed limit.
When stopped by police Cheshire identified herself as the driver of the vehicle and was informed the matter could not be dealt with by way of a fixed penalty due to the high speed.
Defence solicitor Julie Cooper explained that Cheshire has been driving for seven years and works in the family business, where part of her job is to deliver documentation.
The defence told the court that Cheshire could travel up to three hundred miles a week as part of her work and said it was a car was important for her employment.
She also highlighted Cheshire’s active work in a local football club, where she was a coach and handed in a reference from the club secretary.
The solicitor said the defendant was embarrassed by the incident and that she was fully aware of the consequences of her speed and accepted her guilt.
In mitigation she highlighted the fact the road and conditions were clear, but offered no excuses on behalf of the defendant. Ms Cooper added that any disqualification would be “detrimental to the children she coaches and the family business.”
District judge Nigel Broderick said he still felt a disqualification was merited in spite of the defendant’s work in the family business and football club.
“Anyone who drives around 90mph can expect a disqualification. Speed is a serious matter in any road traffic collision.”
Cheshire has appealed the charge on her own bail of £500 and has permission to drive pending appeal.
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