Enniskillen Magistrates Court was told on Monday that police were on mobile patrol on the A4 Belfast Road at Maguiresbridge at 6.52pm on June 14th when they observed a blue Ford car turning left at Gardiners Cross Road and heading towards Enniskillen at speed.

 

Officers noted that car appeared to be full of numerous household items such as cardboard boxes and cushions, but they had a clear view of the driver who they identified as Donna Bradley.

 

Police pursued the vehicle which was traveling at high speeds of up to 83mph on the road which has a speed limit fixed at 60 miles per hour. The vehicle’s speed reduced when it came upon slow moving traffic and it eventually pulled onto the hard shoulder near Lisbellaw. 

 

Officers spoke to Bradley and observed that her view was blocked by the various items in the car. The defendant told police that she had been speeding as she had to be home by 7pm in order to abide by a curfew imposed at a previous court sitting. She added: “I promise you that’s why I was speeding”.

 

Bradley, 45, of Irvinestown Road in Enniskillen was charged with careless driving and speeding.

Defence barrister Stephen Fitzpatrick told the court: “It was an unfortunate incident in which Ms Bradley felt compelled to use excess speed. 

 

He claimed she was moving items and didn’t realise the time and would have had difficulty trying to comply with her bail conditions. She is not someone who habitually speeds and it was not the highest speed and at the lower end of the scale but it was a genuine and legitimate error.”

 

District Judge Nigel Broderick was told that Bradley already has nine penalty points on her licence and imposed an immediate disqualification for three months. She also fined £100 on each charge.