A south Armagh student who was clocked speeding at more than 70mph while a restricted driver has been handed four penalty points.
Defence counsel informed the court that at the time the 19-year-old was just five weeks away from taking her ‘R’ plates down.
Chelsie Rose Farrell, of Newtown Road, Newry pleaded guilty to being a restricted driver exceeding the 45mph limit.
Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday heard the defendant was stopped by police as she was caught driving a Volkswagen Polo at 76mph on the A1 dual carriageway at Dromore.
Court also heard Farrell was a Queen’s University student studying business and Spanish.
Defence counsel stated: “This is a road well known to our client as she travels the A1 from Newry to Belfast every day.
“It is also one of the most policed roads in Northern Ireland.”
Court heard that the defendant’s reasoning for speeding was that she was running late for a shift at work.
Defence counsel said Farrell was “very diligent and hardworking” adding that her licence was “critical to both her studies and work”.
He also accepted that it was a “very high reading for a restricted driver”.
Defence added: “We must say for someone so young she travels a great distance.”
Farrell was handed four penalty points and ordered to pay a fine of £100, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within four weeks.
