Man who drove at 114mph gets banned for two years
The court heard that the defendant was co-operative with gardaí.
A motorist who was detected driving at 185kph (114 miles per hour) on the N17 has been banned for two years.
Mulla Safi, aged 48, c/o Tasty Bites, Main St, Mountcharles, Co Donegal, pleaded guilty at Ballina District Court to careless driving at Aghamore, Ballyhaunis on May 14, 2023.
The court heard that Gda Micheal Gorman was conducting a speed check at 1.20pm when he recorded a car driving past at a speed of 185kph in a 100kph zone. Gda Gorman pursued the vehicle and spoke to the driver, Mulla Safi, who was travelling with his young son. Safi was apologetic.
Gda Inspector Elaine Horan said the speed was excessive but there was no element of dangerous driving involved.
Safi, an Afghani national, has been living in Ireland for several years and is the father of eight children. He has no previous convictions.
Solicitor Francis Gillespie said Safi had travelled from Donegal to Galway to take care of the children of a relative who was attending a family funeral in Turkey.
“There was a certain degree of urgency and he was not paying attention to his driving."
Mr Gillespie said the defendant owns a business in Mountcharles and is the only driver in his house. He scored 38 out of a possible 50 points in the Pro-Social driving course.
Judge Fiona Lydon said she was "very concerned" at the speed.
“It is also very concerning that your eight-year-old son was in the car with you when this happened,” she added.
She imposed a two-year driving ban and a fine of €500. Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal.
