'Astronomical speed' driver to pay huge sum to athletes going to world cup from Midlands club with Laois members

A speeding driver has been ordered to pay €20,000 to a Midlands athletes with disabilities avoid a driving ban for speeding.

Samir Ouzoughogh was clocked at 202kph on the M6 motorway at Ardan between Kilbeggan and Tyrrellspass.

The 35-year-old Moroccan native, with an address at An Fionnan, Magazine Road, Athlone, was driving a high powered Mercedes on July 27, 2021, Tullamore District Court heard.

Garda Eoin Moore said the offence was committed at 7.35pm on a fine evening and the speed limit on the M6 was 120kph.

Because of the speed Mr Ouzoughogh was driving at, he was prosecuted for dangerous driving, Garda Moore added.

The court was told there was a low amount of traffic on the road at the time and the accused did not realise how fast he was travelling.

The maximum possible speed in the vehicle would be 244kph, said Garda Moore.

David Staunton, BL, defending (instructed by Marc Bairead, solicitor), said that no excuse could be proferred for Mr Ouzoughogh.

Judge Andrew Cody responded: “If a car crashes at 200kph there is only one result, and that's death.”

Mr Staunton said the accused was aged 44 and was a native of Morocco but had worked in Sweden and Ireland in IT at a reasonably high level and lived in this country.

The car had been returned to him after being repaired and he had taken it out with what some might say was enthusiasm beyond what was “in any sense appropriate”.

He was extremely remorseful and would be prepared to offer the court a sum of money to charity to reduce the charge.

Judge Cody said the minimum disqualification would be two years and Mr Staunton replied that the accused would be prepared to offer “several thousand” euros to charity.

Judge said that considering the level of endangerment to road users on the M6 that day any charitable contribution would have to be an “astronomical deterrent” and at a level never seen in his court before.

Asked by Mr Staunton if the court had a figure in mind, Judge Cody said €20,000 and indicated the man could sell his Mercedes if he wanted to drive.

Otherwise he would be “looking at not a three-year ban and a significant suspended sentence”.

After consulting with Mr Ouzoughogh, Mr Staunton said the accused would struggle to make a payment of €20,000 but within a month he would pay €10,000.

He was earning €36,000 a year and had a loan on the Mercedes, a 161 model worth about €25,000. He was also assisting his sister with her studies at university in Morocco.

Mr Staunton said the man would require a month to get a loan for €10,000.

“I'm still looking for the second 10,” replied Judge Cody.

Mr Staunton said €10,000 was not anything to be scoffed at, to which the judge responded: “Neither is 202kph.”

“It's an astronomical speed and it has to be a significant and painful deterrent for your client,” he added.

When Mr Staunton said it would take his client more than a year for him to pay €20,000, Judge Cody said the full amount would have to be paid by June 1.

The court later heard Mr Ouzoughogh would pay the full amount by that date.

Judge Cody adjourned finalisation of the matter to June 21 next for the €20,000 and said if it was paid, the charge would be reduced from dangerous driving to careless driving and there would be no disqualification.

He said the money would be paid to the Midlands United Powerchair Football Club which had three players representing Ireland at the upcoming world cup in Sydney, Australia in October.

The court heard that the players were three “great young men” with disabilities and the club had met with him recently and asked for assistance with funds from the court poor box to pay for the trip.

The three players are Tom Donogher, Kinnitty, Sean Donogher, Kinnitty and Conor Troy, Kilcormac.

Midlands United Powerchair Football Club was founded in 2009 and the sport allows wheelchair users to become competitive footballers. The club consists of players from Laois, Offaly and Westmeath.

Powerchair football is a mixed gender sport with teams of four, played in an indoor court, similar in size to a basketball court.

The players used specially designed wheelchairs which are set low to the ground and they have a front bumper which used to strike the ball.

The Midlands club is governed by the Association of Irish Powerchair Football and there are six teams in the national league.

The Midlands team has been hugely successful and previously had players representing Ireland at the world cup in 2017 in Florida.