A 43-year-old man has been banned from driving for six months after pleading guilty to speeding on the M2 near Antrim. Liam Watson was caught driving a Maxus van at 91mph, well above the vehicle’s 50mph restriction, at around 9pm on April 19.

Watson, a self-employed man with seven employees, appeared at Antrim Magistrates' Court in Ballymena. His solicitor said his licence was essential for his work and that he had been travelling to catch a ferry to work in England.

The court heard that Watson already had nine penalty points on his licence. District Judge Nigel Broderick noted his very poor driving record, which included a dangerous driving conviction in 2009, multiple speeding detections, and a previous totting-up ban of two weeks in 2024.

For the latest offence, the judge imposed three penalty points, triggering a six-month ban under totting-up provisions. Watson was also fined £200 and given £500 to appeal. His defence handed in references from his hurling club, where he coaches under-age teams.