The speeding of a young man found racing on the M6 motorway was described as “appalling” by a district court judge this week before a €600 fine and a two year disqualification was imposed.
Nineteen-year-old Niall Kelly with an address at Kiltullagh, Athenry, Co Galway, was summoned to appear at Galway District Court on Monday for the offence of dangerous driving at the M6 motorway, Oranmore, on January 16, 2010.
The court heard that at 12.20am Garda William Mulligan detected a car travelling at speed on the M6 motorway, near Ballybane, and went in pursuit. Garda Mullingan activated the blue lights of the patrol car and was forced to pick up considerable speed - reaching 180kph at one point - in order to keep up with Kelly’s car. It was not until four to five kilometres away that Kelly, who has a previous conviction for driving without due care and attention, was eventually stopped.
Defence solicitor Valerie Corcoran made an application for the charge to be reduced to driving without due care and attention, however Inspector Ernie White objected and Judge Mary Fahy refused to reduce it.
In giving evidence Garda Mulligan said: “It was obvious to me he was racing another car up the motorway. Two cars were alongside each other”.
Ms Corcoran said that her client was well aware of the seriousness that a disqualification can have on his employment.
“This racing is absolutely appalling,” said Judge Fahy who added that there was far too much carnage on the nation’s roads.
Ms Corcoran then explained that there had been someone in the left lane that Kelly knows. She added that Kelly admits speeding and that when he was stopped the other vehicle kept going.
After consideration, Judge Fahy convicted Kelly of dangerous driving fining him €600 with five months to pay and disqualifying him from driving for two years and one day.
