Driver ‘didn’t know road was closed’

A man accused of driving on closed roads for the 2019 TT has appeared in court. Robin Bromley-martin, a resident of the Isle of Man, was still driving his car on the Mountain Course, when the roads were closed at 6pm on Tuesday, August 20, during practice for the Classic Tt/manx GP.

When he reached Quarry bends, he was stopped by marshals and directed into the Wildlife Park parking area, but instead of leaving the course, he turned around and drove off at speed back towards Ballacrye. Marshals at the Ballacrye road junction were able to get him to leave the course at that point.

Mr Bromley-martin was subsequently arrested at his home nearby and was kept in custody for the night. Upon questioning during the court appearance he stated that he didn’t know that the road was closed, and that the marshal standing in the road waving the red flag in a figure of eight motion, could have been indicating there was an accident ahead or that cows were crossing the road.

At the time of going to print Deputy High Bailiff Louise Byrne had reserved judgment on the case.