Carlow Judge dismisses speeding charges at notorious road
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FIVE men who recently appeared before Carlow District Court in relation to speeding offences at Graiguenaspiddoge got an unexpected boost when their charges were dismissed for a variety of reasons.
One young man, who had travelled from Drogheda for the court sitting, told the court: “I would like to apologise to the court for wasting your time on this matter. I was on my way home from working for my father, heading towards my nanny’s, and went 8kph over. I don’t know if the speedometer was 100%.”
He said he had since gone back into full-time education and did not have the spare money at the time to pay the fixed-charge notice.
Judge Geraldine Carthy said: “I accept what you say and I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. I will dismiss, and I wish you well.”
The second man, also representing himself, said he had “completely forgot” to pay the fine. “These are my first penalty points, my first offence … I just forgot to pay,” he said.
He told the court he passes the speed camera twice a day for work and had never gone over the speed limit before.
“Let this be a lesson to you. Dismissed,” said Judge Carthy.
As the man appeared ready to say more, she added in good humour: “The less you say, the better.”
Another man, who had been detected travelling only 8kph over the limit, told the court: “I went to pay the other day and it was rejected, so I said I’d better turn up.”
“Don’t appear before me again. Dismissed,” Judge Carthy replied.
The fourth man, who was also representing himself, said he had not received the summons and had not even been driving the car at the time. “I gave the car to a friend of mine because his van had broken down,” he said.
He added: “I live in the countryside in the middle of nowhere … letters have gone missing in the past.”
“I believe you. Dismissed,” said Judge Carthy.
The last man to have his speeding case dismissed told the court that he had endured a difficult year-and-a-half due to a separation and said his failure to pay the fine had come down to procrastination.
A garda in court then intervened to say there was, in any event, no paperwork before the court for the offence in question. The matter was struck out.
“It’s your lucky day,” Judge Carthy told him. “Dismissed.”
