Man caught travelling at 112mph told to get a push bike after judge imposes 30-day ban

A man who was clocked by police travelling at 112mph has been disqualified from driving for one month.

The judge told the 20-year-old: “Travelling at this sort of speed, is not only not recognizant of other road users, it is not respectful of you parents as you put your own life at risk.”

Matthew McGurk, of Dunnamore Road, Cookstown, pleaded guilty to excess speed at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Prosecution outlined that on August 11, at around 5.10pm, police detected Volkswagen Golf at the M12 underpass travelling at a speed of 112mph in a 70mph zone.

Officers spoke to the driver – the defendant – who made no reply to caution.

Defence barrister Conor Lunny stated: “This young man’s employment is in jeopardy, after consulting with his solicitor and myself he acutely aware of the jeopardy he is in.

“In terms of mitigating circumstances, there are few, there was no need for him to be travelling at that speed but it was a Sunday evening on the motorway with few other road users.”

District Judge Bernie Kelly said: “Have you ever been overtaken by someone at that speed, well I have, you don’t even see them.

“If he hits anything at 112mph, I am in doubt even the fire brigade could do anything about it.”

She continued: “He may consider himself to be the best young driver to have ever sat the test in Northern Ireland but he can’t expect that of everyone else on the road.

“That isn’t the case everyone makes mistakes, it’s not you that you need to look out for it’s other drivers and you can’t do that at 112mph.”

Mr Lunny commented: “His mother and father have come to court, he lives some 12 miles from his work and they will have to assist him in this.”

Judge Kelly said: “I wouldn’t, I would tell him to walk it, or better still get a push bike, he has to understand that having a licence is a luxury.”

“Mr McGurk, travelling at this sort of speed, is not only not recognizant of other road user, it is not respectful of you parents as you put your own life at risk”.

The defendant was disqualified from driving for four weeks and ordered to pay a fine of £150, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within four weeks.

The judge warned McGurk: “If you do anything like this again you will be resitting your test.”

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