A Scottish Premiership footballer was clocked speeding at almost 100mph as he raced home from a match to comfort his grieving father.
Shaun Rooney, 23, told a court he had to play a match in the wake of his grandfather’s death and was rushing home straight afterwards.
The defender said he realised he could be viewed as “a role model” because he is a professional footballer and apologised for his offence.
Rooney, who has signed for St Johnstone, was playing for Inverness Caledonian Thistle when he was clocked driving at 98mph last December.
He admitted the offence by letter at Dundee’s Justice of the Peace Court yesterday and was fined £540, which he was allowed to pay at £25 per week.
Rooney, who told the court he earned £30,000 annually, escaped a driving ban after Sheriff John Rafferty imposed four penalty points on his licence.
Depute fiscal Laura Hogg told the court Rooney had been clocked driving northbound on the A9 dual carriageway by a mobile camera device.
Rooney, Park Gate Place, Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, admitted driving his Mercedes A180 at 98mph on the Inverness to Perth A9 at Moulinearn on December 7 2019.
He said: “On December 3 I found out that my grandfather died after a lengthy battle with cancer.
“However, due to my club commitments, I was unable to drive back home to be with my family until the night of the offence.
“In the days between finding out about his death and the day of the offence I was anxious to return home to provide support for my father.
“He was suffering from grief, compounded by my mother’s death – which was also from cancer – in July 2019.
“On the day of the offence I played my match and left the stadium straight away.
“Although I felt physically fit to drive I was feeling very anxious about going home to my family.
“I can only say my concentration levels were not what they should have been, resulting in a temporary loss of concentration.
“I am aware of my responsibilities and I am usually a safe driver.
“I realise that through my employment I may be regarded as a role model and apologise profusely to the court.”
Rooney signed a pre-contract deal at the turn of the year to join SPFL side St Johnstone but has yet to make his debut for the Perth club.
