A driver who drove through a red light at the junction of Belmore Street and Forthilll Street while police were sitting in a vehicle beside him did so to make a statement about the new junction.

Colin Anthony Burns (63) from Greenhayes, London Road, Ascot faced a charge of contravening a traffic signal on 28th January this year.

The court heard that on the date in question police on mobile patrol were stopped at a red light at the end of Belmore Street in Enniskillen.

They noticed an Audi 80 car pulled up at the lights beside them. It stopped there for approximately 15 seconds and then proceeded to drive through the red light onto Forthill Street.

Police followed and stopped the vehicle and spoke to the driver, the defendant, who told officers the new junction was a 'complete disaster'.

Police tried to offer the defendant a fixed penalty but he insisted he couldn't be issued with a fixed penalty because he had an English driving licence.

Defending, Vincent Maguire said the defendant was a company director of a business in Forthill Street.
Mr Maguire said his client was one of a number of local traders who were unhappy with the flow of traffic through the Belmore Street area since the new junction was introduced.

A group of traders has been formed to look at this and, at the time of this incident the defendant had just come from the Townhall where the group had met to discuss this.

Mr Maguire said his client felt little progress had been made.

The defendant feels there should be a filter light to let traffic move onto Forthill Street and, aware that police were beside him he decided to make a statement in full knowledge that police would pursue him.

Mr Maguire said his client now accepts this was a foolhardy act and he now accepts he is not entitled to flout the law.

No other road users were inconvenienced by the defendant's actions.

For the offence the defendant was fined £100 and had three penalty points endorsed on his licence.