Judge hopes teaching student has learned something after being caught speeding
AN ‘R’ driver has been told by a district judge that she “needs to be careful”, after she was caught doing 81mph on the A1.
Katie Murray (18), from Carran Road, Crossmaglen, entered a plea to excess speed at Banbridge Magistrates’ Court last Thursday.
Court heard that on February 25 at 9.01am on the A1 at Banbridge, police detected a white Hyundai travelling at 81mph, which was 36mph in excess of the 45mph limit the defendant was restricted to.
Defence Kevin O’Hare explained that Miss Murray appeared in court with her mother.
“On this particular occasion she was heading down to St. Mary's College.
“She’s just finishing up year one in her teaching course, which is her chosen vocation, and she was late for the course - that's why she was speeding.
“She was in a brief state of panic because she was running late.
“This has been a fairly scary lesson for her and I don’t think it’s going to happen again.”
Addressing the defendant, District Judge Eamonn King said: “You want to be a teacher, Miss Murray.
“And, therefore, when you have your classroom full of pupils you hope, at the end of the lesson, that they’ve learnt something.
“Well I hope that after today you have learnt something.
“‘R’ plates are there for a reason. You are only 18, and you need to be careful in relation to how you drive your car.
“You’re like every other young person, as I say in this court, they’re always in a hurry.
“But your mother will tell you, you’ll get there in the end.
“You were travelling too fast and I’m sure the lecturer would have been reasonable enough.”
She was fined £150 “because of the speed” and given three penalty points.
“You must understand that as an ‘R’ driver you shouldn't be going any faster than 45mph.”