'Glowing' references don’t save Kildare driver from ban
Photo for illustrative purposes only
AN ELECTRICIAN who got glowing references from both his employer and GAA club avoided a sentence, but was nonetheless banned from driving for two years and fined €1,000 for dangerous driving for running from a garda checkpoint.
Michael McLoughlin (24) from Arconagh, Naas was appearing in Naas District Court recently (19 March) charged with two counts of dangerous driving at Killibegs, Prosperous on 3 October 2023.
When Judge Desmond Zaidan heard the townland name he raised a sizeable eyebrow, and asked: “a car chase from Donegal to Kildare?”
Sergeant Dave Hanrahan quickly explained how Killibegs was also a townland near Prosperous where his colleagues had set up a checkpoint on the day in question.
“At around 4.30pm the officers noticed an Audi Q5 turn off before them, and they believe the driver took off to avoid the checkpoint,” he explained.
“The car was clocked doing at least 110kph in an 80kph zone, and failed to stop,” he added.
Barrister Richard Wixted said his client was a 24-yhear-old GAA player with Two Mile House who was only 21 at the time.
“His vehicle didn’t have any tax, and he felt the car would’ve been seized so he made a foolish decision. When he was stopped, he was fully co-operative,” he said.
“He has no convictions, pre- or post, a blameless life, and he is pleading guilty,” he added.
“He is now 24, and has qualified as an electrician … and has character references from his local GAA club and his employer.” Mr Wixted continued: “This is a one-off where he made a foolish decision.
“He has a sum of money in court if you minded to include that as part of his sentence?” However, the judge wasn’t persuaded.
“I’m afraid there are too many FOIs (Freedom of Information requests) showing donations for penalty points, and we don’t want to appear on that,” said Judge Zaidan.
“That concludes Mr Wixted’s mitigation,” he added.
“These are both glowing reports, they talk highly of you.
“I’ve been listening very carefully to Mr Wixted, but you put other road users and gardaí in danger,” said the judge finding the man guilty.
He handed down concurrent two-year bans for each of the dangerous driving charges, and fined Mr McLaughlin a further €1,000 as well.
