Drove at 91mph in village

A MAN who drove through Magheramason village at speeds of over 90 miles per hour has been handed a £300 fine.

Gerard Crowne, (48), of Shandon Park in Omagh, was clocked by a police speed enforcement unit on October 1 travelling at 91mph on Victoria Road, which has a speed limit of 60mph.

Explaining the circumstances of the speeding, Crowne’s defence solicitor said the Omagh man had been in Derry when he received a phone call from his wife to say their child had taken ill.

He said the child has faced “serious illness” since birth.

“It’s not an excuse for speeding but perhaps it adds some context,” the solicitor added.

Strabane Magistrates Court also heard that Crowne has a record of previous driving offences dating back to 2010.

District Judge Steven Keown said that “given the circumstances” he would measure the fine against the points and not the speed.

Crowne was given three points on his license and a £300 fine with a £15 offender’s levy.