A PRIEST caught driving at 100mph 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), parish priest of St Vincent de Paul in Ligoniel in north Belfast and a chaplain for the deaf community in the Down and Connor diocese, was speeding in an Audi A4 on the M2 on Sunday March 12 this year.

The priest, from Ligoniel Road, already had nine penalty points on his licence.

He was accompanied by another clergyman at Antrim Magistrates Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to a charge of excess speed.

A defence solicitor said his client had worked for Marks & Spencer before becoming a priest and alongside his commitments to his parish and the deaf community, was also 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 that 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 and imposed a £75 fine.

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