A 26-YEAR-OLD motorist who overtook another vehicle in the mouth of a junction before later reaching speeds of over 90mph along Sligo Road had never passed his driving test, Fermanagh Magistrates Court has heard.

Martin Thomas Maguire, of Cleenish Park, Enniskillen, pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention at Sligo Road, Enniskillen, driving at excess speed, being an unaccompanied ‘L’ driver, not display ‘L’ plates and not having a licence on March 26, 2016.

The court heard that, at 9.40am, police on mobile patrol of Sligo Road observed a Volkswagen Bora displaying ‘R’ plates travelling in the direction of Letterbreen.

Officers subsequently saw this car commence an overtaking manoeuvre on chevron markings on the road.

Upon pulling out it was “totally on the wrong side of the road” at the mouth of a junction, the court heard.

After completing the manoeuvre the Bora sped off and reached 92mph, before being stopped by the police.

When officers spoke to the defendant, who was driving, he informed them that he only held a provisional driving licence.

Defending solicitor, Barry Lynam, told the court that his client had sold the vehicle after the incident.

While confirming that the defendant had been displaying ‘R’ plates on the day he was stopped, Mr Lynam admitted that Maguire had never passed his driving test.

The solicitor said that the defendant’s previous record was a “difficulty”, although he added that his offending had “tapered off to a considerable degree”.

In mitigation, Mr Lynam attributed this to a sense of stability gained from the birth of his child and from obtaining work in the construction trade in England.

District judge, Nigel Broderick, observed that it had obviously been a “very poor” piece of driving.

The judge imposed fines totalling £400, a £15 offender levy and disqualified the defendant from driving for six months.