Driver denies 'suicide mission' on motorway

By nhitchens

A MAN drove for eight miles in the fast lane of a busy motorway at 70mph – in the wrong direction.

Psychiatric nurse Philip Irwin emphatically denied claims he had been on a suicide mission, but was unable to account for his actions when he appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court charged with dangerous driving last Wednesday. He admitted the charge at an earlier hearing.

Prosecuting, James Nichols told the court police were called at about 1pm on February 12 by members of the public who reported a car travelling the wrong way on the coast-bound carriageway of the M20 between junctions one and two.

Mr Nichols said: "Cars were beeping him trying to get his attention, but he seemed oblivious to it all.

"He'd gone a fair distance – eight miles against the flow of traffic."

The 55-year-old's terror drive came to an end when he crashed into an Audi driven by a Fraser Coombes.

"The Audi driver said he made no attempt to get out of the way," said Mr Nichols.

"The witness believed he looked as if he was on a suicide mission."

The court heard how Irwin, of Cross In Hand, Heathfield had left his place of work at Maidstone Hospital to visit a patient in Snodland.

How he came to be at junction one of the M20 where it meets the M25 was a mystery.

Mr Nichols concluded he must have driven the correct way up the M20, gone up the sliproad at junction one near Swanley and then somehow gone back down the sliproad the wrong way.

After the accident an empty bottle of whiskey was found in Irwin's car.

But a urine sample was not taken until four hours later because Irwin had to be taken to hospital. When the sample was finally taken he was within the legal drink driving limit.

Irwin also tested positive for drugs meant for his mother, including diazepam and temazepam.

Defending Irwin, John Mullaney said the diazepam had broken down into other component parts including temazepam after it had been consumed.

Mr Mullaney said Irwin was a respected member of the community.

"He's absolutely no clue or recollection of how he came to be going the wrong way up the motorway.

"Thoughts of suicide could not have been further from his mind."

But Mr Mullaney did say Irwin, who is married, had been worried about his mother's health and the pressure this was putting on his brother.

The matter was referred to Maidstone Crown Court for Irwin to be sentenced. A date is still to be set.