34 drivers before court for speeding on same stretch of road
A FIXED speed camera at a single location in Graiguenaspiddoge, Co Carlow brought 34 drivers before Carlow District Court recently, although for many of them the law proved more forgiving than the lens.
Of the 34 cases arising from the same stretch of road, 17 were struck out or withdrawn and three were dismissed by Judge Fiona Brennan, leaving a clutch of convicted motorists nursing €400 fines and, in one case, a rather stiffer €500 penalty.
The busiest period for the camera was the first fortnight of July, when it caught a string of drivers exceeding the 100kph limit. On the morning of 3 July at 6.58am, Lee Gabbett, North Main St, Wexford, was recorded travelling at 114kph. By 4.20pm that same day, Cieragh Tarpey, Oaklawns, Paulstown, Kilkenny had pushed the needle to 115kph. Before the day was out, Sabrina Louise Murphy, Woodlawns Close, Borris was clocked at 118kph and Craig Fagan, Fullers Court, Ballitore, Athy at 116kph. None of the four appeared in court, none had paid their fixed-charge notice and all four were convicted and fined €400.
Two days later, on 5 July, Rita Keogh, Raheen, Brittas, Dublin was caught at 111kph and received the same fine. Her fellow motorist that day, Ann Connors, Ballyprecas, Wexford, was recorded at a more spirited 128kph – the highest speed of the entire bunch. The court noted that Ms Connors had only owned the vehicle since 1 July, making her speed camera debut remarkably prompt. She, too, was fined €400.
The following day, Luke Connors of Piercetown, Station Road, Newbridge, who did not appear, was fined €400 for travelling at 113kph. and on 7 July Isac Bethel Gabor of Congress Hall, Dunboyne, Co Meath was caught at 117kph and received the same penalty.
Not everyone who came before Judge Brennan left with a fine, however. Raymond Furlong, The Ramblings, Portsway, Bunclody, Co Carlow, who was present in court on 7 July, explained that his vehicle had been clocked speeding while he was home on holidays from Australia. His son, he said, had been driving the car and had accepted responsibility. “I had two choices,” Mr Furlong told the court, “pay the fine and accept the penalty points or come to court.”
Judge Brennan dismissed the matter, leaving Mr Furlong with a clean record.
Marius Mihoc, Brookfield, Artane, Dublin 5 similarly escaped penalty points after giving sworn evidence that he had been out of the country visiting family in Romania when his company van was caught at 108kph on 20 July. He had, he explained, lent it to “one of the lads”. The judge dismissed the case.
Siobhan Keogh, Betaghstown, Clane, Co Kildare, whose vehicle was clocked at 113kph on 20 July, told Judge Brennan she had never received a fixed-charge notice. Although evidence suggested one had been posted to her address, she gave sworn testimony that her mother suffers from dementia and had access to the post, from which items had been known to go missing. The case was dismissed.
Among those convicted was Milko Yankou, Main St, Ballon, Co Carlow, whose appetite for speed proved costly. Caught at 108kph on 11 July and again at 109kph the next day, he was fined €400 for the first offence and a sharper €500 for the second, with 12 months to pay.
Eugene Breslin of Ballydawmore, Kinnacross, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford clocked in at 110kph on the evening of 8 July, was convicted and fined €400 in his absence. Thomas Cowman (Carrigbawn, Bunclody, Co Wexford) recorded at 118kph on 20 July, shared the same fate. Alan McDonagh (Dranagh Lane, Kilcormac, Boolavogue, Enniscorthy) at 119kph on 21 July and Hugh Byrne (Glasheroge, Spahill, Carlow) at 110kph the following day also received €400 fines.
One case was adjourned until mid-March. Among the withdrawn cases, one had been issued to the address of an incorrect registration plate. One man arrived ready to deliver a prepared statement in his defence, only to be halted by Judge Brennan, who informed him that his case had already been struck out and that no statement was required.
