Derry man banned and fined for ‘horrendous and shocking' driving along A6
District Judge Oonagh Mullan imposed the ban and fine after describing the speed driven by Regan McCaul (23) of Raftery Close in the Ballygroarty area of Derry as ‘horrendous and shocking’
An electrician who was detected driving his Volkswagen Golf car at 108mph along the stretch of the A6 dual carriageway between Derry and Dungiven last year has been handed a two month driving ban and fined £250 at the Magistrates' Court in Derry.
District Judge Oonagh Mullan imposed the ban and fine after describing the speed driven by Regan McCaul (23) of Raftery Close in the Ballygroarty area of Derry as ‘horrendous and shocking.’
The judge told the defendant "There are too many fatalities on the roads and a large amount of them are caused by speeding. This case is really one which deserves a disqualification".
Solicitor for McCaul, Jack Quigley, said he could not get away from the fact that McCaul's driving on the night of October 16 last year merited a period of disqualification but he asked Judge Mullan to impose a reduced period of disqualification period and a significant fine.
He asked the court to ‘temper’ the period of disqualification and perhaps impose ‘a significant fine’ as the defendant travels to the Republic for work.
Mr Quigley said McCaul now travels there by public transport and added that he ‘has managed to secure a good job as an electrician in a city where employment for young people is very scarce.’
Judge Mullan said McCaul was ‘naive’ in terms of his driving and added ‘he should not be on the road. He is a danger to other road users. I am sorry but a short period of disqualification is just not going to happen.’
She said McCaul was ‘foolish enough’ to drive at the speed and asked ‘Why should one individual get a short period of disqualification when driving at such a speed?’
Mr. Quigley then asked the District Judge "to invoke discretion" by keeping the disqualification period to between "two weeks to a month" to which the District Judge replied "absolutely not".
She then asked McCaul of he had any holiday leave to take to which the defendant replied "I'm just back from Tenerife".
Mrs. Mullan then disqualified him for two months and fined him £250.