Northern Ireland minister challenges judge’s sentencing remarks
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John O'Dowd
A minister in the Northern Ireland Executive has taken the remarkable step of writing to the Lady Chief Justice to challenge sentencing remarks made by a district court judge.
The Department for Infrastructure yesterday announced that minister John O’Dowd had written to Dame Siobhan Keegan in relation to a case where a motorist was caught driving at 100mph.
The case in question was apparently one which came before Dungannon Magistrates’ Court earlier this month.
Judge Peter Magill imposed a £650 fine and five penalty points on a motorist who was driving at 100mph on an A road with a 60mph speed limit.
According to the BBC, the judge told the defendant that he accepted there “was a reason why you were rushing”, and that it was “not an excuse but at least there was a reason behind what you were doing”.
Mr O’Dowd said: “While I am not privy to all of the details of any case taken before the courts, I believe it is incumbent upon all of us to send out a strong message when it comes to speeding and other road user behaviours which endanger lives.
“Put quite simply, speeding can and does kill. There can never be a reason or excuse for driving at 100mph in a 60mph zone. We need to get real and have honest conversations with ourselves and with others about how we behave on the roads.”
The Office of the Lady Chief Justice has been contacted for comment.
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