Kildare driver receives prison sentence for driving 180kph in a 60kph zone
Athy courthouse Photo: Aisling Hyland
A MAN clocked doing three times the speed limit received a prison sentence totalling ten months this week (25 March).
Niall Whelan (34) of Coolypullagh, Nurney appeared in Athy District Court charged on three counts of dangerous driving on the Naas-Athy Road (R418) on 28 November 2023 over a six-kilometre stretch between Gallows Hill, Russellstown Cross and Kilmead.
When the pursuing garda gave evidence of Mr Whelan doing 180kph in a 60kph zone on the road, Judge Desmond Zaidan paused for a moment before asking: “Did you know the guards were following?”
“Mr Whelan said he did not know he was being followed,” said Sergeant Dave Hanrahan, prosecuting.
“It was a marked patrol car,” he added, before confirming Mr Whelan’s guilty plea.
“He has one previous conviction, but it was a long time ago,” he said.
“Let’s assume his vision is correct and he wasn’t aware. That makes it worse,” said the judge.
“Either way, both versions are aggravating,” he added.
“You were very fortunate Garda Farragher stopped you when he did. It was a blessing in disguise, because it was only a matter of time before you ended in a wheelchair, or killed someone,” said the judge.
“I have a duty of care to the public,” said the judge as he sentenced Mr Whelan to five months in prison on two of the counts, taking the third into consideration.
He then ruled the two five-month sentences be served consecutively.
He also banned Mr Whelan from driving for two years.
