Second student clocked at over 90mph in Lack

Enniskillen Court House RMG10

FOR the second time in a week, a young student has appeared in court after being caught speeding at over 90mph in the Lack area.

Stefan Graham (20) of Back Road, Drumbo in Lisburn appeared before Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday. The court heard that police were on duty at 2.10pm on August 30th outside Lack village when they observed Graham driving at 97mph in the direction of Ederney, where the speed limit is fixed at 60mph.

Police stopped the vehicle and spoke to Graham who when cautioned replied that he had been “very, very stupid”.

District Judge Nigel Broderick heard that Graham had been driving at 37mph over the limit and just three miles under 100. When he asked why the defendant had been driving so fast on this occasion, defence barrister Stefan Rafferty replied: “He can provide no explanation or justification for it and it appears to have arisen out of a lack of concentration.”

The judge said: “If you’re travelling at almost 100 miles I would have thought you would be concentrating”.

Mr Rafferty told the court that at the time of his detection Graham, an architecture student in Belfast, had been on his way to the Manor House to meet friends and go water-skiing.

After hearing that Graham had only passed his driving test in 2014, the judge noted that he was “still a relatively inexperienced driver”. Mr Rafferty replied that more years on the road would afford his client a greater opportunity to gain experience. He also stated that as part of his course, Graham was travelling to Dublin regularly on a placement and required his licence to carry this out.

“His family are very enraged that he drove in the manner that he did,” Mr Rafferty added. “He fully appreciates the gravity of his offending. He has had a wake-up call and understands that the rules of the road are there to be obeyed. He appreciates that he has jeopardised everything.”

Judge Broderick pointed out that in other jurisdictions, the manner of Graham’s driving would be viewed as dangerous.
Addressing Graham, the judge said: “You are a young driver and speed is a major cause of accidents in this jurisdiction and it’s young men who are speeding.

The courts must take a robust view and there must be a deterrent for those who drive at this speed.”
Graham was fined £200 and disqualified from driving for six weeks.

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