Speeding tourist caught doing 172kph in Laois

A tourist was given the chance to avoid a driving ban by donating €7,500 after speeding on the motorway in Laois. 

Kieran Scullion (41) of Stretton Road, Shirley, Solihull, UK, was charged with dangerous driving after being caught driving at 172kph in a 120 zone on the M7 at Ballydavis on July 26 last. 

Garda Ross Foy said the man was driving an Audi and had a full UK driving licence when he was stopped on the M7 at 9.47am on the date in question. He said the weather was good on the day. “There was no issue with him. He was a gentleman throughout,” said Garda Foy. 

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said his client had travelled from Birmingham to meet the case. He said the man was a firefighter and had been on holidays in Bantry, Co Cork with his family. He said he was “deeply apologetic” over the incident and had been in a rush  to catch a ferry when he was stopped. 

Judge Andrew Cody asked if there were children in the car? He was told there were two children in the car at the time. 

“Putting two children in that danger is unbelievable," said Judge Cody. 

Mr  Fitzgerald said “he is otherwise a decent man, a working man. He has travelled over from Birmingham.” He also said the man had “behaved impeccably” when he was stopped. 

He said the man frequently holidays in Ireland and he asked the judge to consider reducing the dangerous driving offence to one of careless driving, which doesn’t attract an automatic ban. 

Garda Foy said he would be amenable to a reduction of the dangerous driving offence. 

Judge Cody said he would reduce it on condition that the man makes a charitable donation of €7,500 and he asked how long the man would need. 

Mr Fitzgerald suggested four months and Judge Cody said he would have it a lot sooner if he sold his car. He adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on November 27 and excused the defendant from attending on that date.