Porsche 911 driver doing 185kph was ‘beginning to slow down’ after 212kph conviction

A Porsche driver who was caught doing 185kph had previously been caught driving at 212kph, a sitting of Portlaoise District Court was told.

Nicholas Courtney, 44, with an address at Mountcliff, Caragh, Co Kildare was charged with dangerous driving after being detected driving a Porsche 911 on the M7 at Gort na Clea, Portlaoise on May 3, 2023.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant was travelling at 185kph in a 120kph zone and the State wouldn’t be willing to reduce the charge to careless driving, which doesn’t carry an automatic driving disqualification. 

Solicitor Ian Flynn said his client was a self employed businessman and primary carer for his terminally ill mother, who lives in Cashel, Co Tipperary. He said the man had brought his mother to a medical appointment in Cork on the date in question.

Mr Flynn described the incident as “particularly stupid” and his client was “highly embarrassed” by the event.  “I would be asking the court’s indulgence,” said Mr Flynn.  

Judge Andrew Cody asked Sgt Kirby about the man’s previous record. 

Sgt Kirby said the man had previously been detected driving  at 212kph on the M9 Motorway in Carlow on April 4, 2019. The dangerous driving charge was reduced to careless and the man was fined €1,000 in court in Carlow in 2021, Sgt Kirby said. 

“I fully appreciate the seriousness of his history,” said Mr Flynn.

Judge Andrew Cody said he would have been very reluctant to reduce it to careless driving and even if he did, the man would still get a disqualification. 

“The best  you can say is he is beginning to slow down at 185kph,” noted Judge Cody. 

Mr Flynn asked if consideration might be given to a high financial contribution. 

“Particularly high if needs be,” he said. 

“I appreciate what I am asking the court to do is beyond normal bounds,” said Mr Flynn. 

Judge Cody fined the man €4,000 and disqualified him from driving for two years. He fixed recognisance in case of appeal.