Uninsured motorist sentenced for driving at 158km/h on Mayo's N17

A DONEGAL man who drove at 158km/h along the N17 near Knock has been disqualified from driving for four years and sentenced to four months’ imprisonment.

Colm Howard of 22 Cnoc Ard Drive, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, appeared before last week’s sitting of Castlebar District Court, where he was charged with speeding along the N17 on August 5, 2020, and having no insurance.

Garda Hugh McHugh explained that at 2.41pm he detected Mr Howard driving at 158km/h in a 100km/h zone at Lismeeguan, Knock. He stopped the defendant and issued him with a Fixed Charge Penalty Notice, which went unpaid.

The court heard that Mr Howard has a number of previous convictions, including convictions for having no insurance.

Ms Kathleen Henry, counsel for Mr Howard, explained her client was working in a Covid ward in Limerick at the time and was caught speeding on his way home to Donegal. She said at the time his friend, who had been driving his own car was tired, and Mr Howard agreed to drive, thinking he was insured.

She said that Mr Howard employs four people who rely on him for a job, and he also has a wife and two children, and she asked Judge Fiona Lydon to be as lenient as possible.

However, Judge Lydon expressed concern about Mr Howard’s previous convictions for driving with no insurance, and having considered all the options and taking the speeding into account, she imposed a four-month jail sentence along with a four-year driving disqualification.

Ms Henry asked Judge Lydon if she would consider suspending the sentence, as Mr Howard is the sole breadwinner in the house. Judge Lydon declined the request, saying that Mr Howard has a number of road traffic convictions over the last 20 years and his misdemeanours had to stop.

Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal, and Mr Howard availed of this. He was later released pending an appeal in the Circuit Court.