Two motorists have been dealt with at Antrim Magistrates' Court sitting in Ballymena for separate offences on the M2 motorway.

Jonathan Bowman, 29, of Hillhead Road near Toomebridge, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol. The court heard police attended a collision on the M2 after 11.30pm on June 28 this year. Officers observed blood on Bowman at the scene. A prosecutor said Bowman was slow to answer questions and could not explain how the collision had occurred. He was subsequently taken to Antrim Area Hospital and a test showed an alcohol in blood reading of 110, exceeding the legal limit of 80.

A defence solicitor told the court Bowman had consumed alcohol earlier in the day and believed sufficient time had passed for him to be fit to drive. He was disqualified from driving for one year and fined £300.

In a separate case, Mark Fitzpatrick, 35, of Magheralave Meadows in Lisburn, was detected travelling on the M2 at Rathbeg near Antrim town on May 15 this year. His solicitor acknowledged the speed was very high.

Deputy District Judge Mark Hamill noted that Fitzpatrick had maximised the credit available to him by pleading guilty at an early stage. He imposed five penalty points and a fine of £400.