Speedster had no insurance or licence
The defendant pleaded guilty at Castlebar District Court.
A Ballyhaunis resident who was detected driving at 150 kilometres per hour in a 100 km/hour zone has been put off the road for four years.
Rene Kora, of Hazelcourt, Ballyhaunis, pleaded guilty at Castlebar District Court to careless driving and having no insurance or licence. An interpreter was sworn in for the hearing.
Garda Michael Gorman told the court he was conducting a speed check on the N17 on August 23, 2025, when he detected a grey Opel Astra driven by Kora travelling at 150 km/h in a 100 km/h zone. There were four people in the car and weather conditions were dry while traffic was "moderate". Kora admitted to not having a licence or insurance. He has four previous convictions, including for driving without insurance and a licence.
Solicitor Cathy McDarby explained that the previous convictions arose from a single incident. Her client is married with children and unemployed. On the day in question, he had been driving his wife to a doctor’s appointment. His English is poor and he had brought family members to assist with translation.
Ms McDarby said Kora’s father-in-law was recently killed in a road traffic accident and he "should have been more considerate". He has since begun the process of obtaining a driving licence.
Noting that Kora never held a driving licence, Judge Sandra Murphy asked who owned the car. Ms McDarby said it belonged to his brother and has since been sold.
Imposing fines totalling €650 and a four-year driving ban, Judge Murphy said Kora took a huge risk and "was well aware of what he was doing".
- Published as part of the Court Reporting Scheme.
