County Antrim Priest banned from driving after 100mph detection

A clergyman who was caught doing 100mph in an Audi A4 on the M2 motorway in County Antrim while on his way to open up a community centre to hold a service for the deaf has been banned from driving for a month.

Fr Patrick Devlin, (52), who is a chaplain responsible for the deaf community in the Down & Connor Diocese and is also the parish priest of the St Vincent de Paul Parish in the Ligoneil area of north Belfast, broke the 70mph speed limit on Sunday March 12 this year.

The 52 year old, from Ligoneil Road, already had nine penalty points on his licence and was banned for a month.

He was accompanied by another clergyman at Antrim Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Fr Devlin pleaded guilty to a charge of excess speed and a defence solicitor said his client had previously worked for Marks & Spencer before becoming a priest.

The solicitor added that as well as being a parish priest, the defendant is also a chaplain for the deaf and a chaplain to the Mater Hospital.

The lawyer said Fr Devlin wished to apologise and realised he has to "confine himself" to lower speeds.

The court heard the priest had previously been disqualified from driving for 14 days at Newtownards Court.

District Judge Peter King said getting fixed penalties was "almost an annual event" for the priest.

He added "You are sailing very close to the wind in terms of speed and holding onto your licence"

The judge banned the priest from the road for a month along with a £75 fine.

Fr Devlin made no comment to the press when he left court.