A judge has told a court that if a motorist driving at 200 kmph crashes into someone “there is devastation and death”.
Judge Mary Larkin made her comment at Ennis District Court after imposing a two year driving ban on Frankie Mongan (25) after hearing that he was detected by Gardai driving at 200 kmph when pursued by Gardai on the M18 motorway near the village of Newmarket on Fergus on July 7th of this year.
Judge Larkin commented: “I can’t imagine a car going that fast.”
Solicitor for Mr Mongan, Tara Godfrey said: “It wasn’t a car like my car. It was a car that was safely able to drive at higher speeds.”
In response, Judge Larkin said: “If you hit someone at 200kmph, there is devastation and death and you would be very lucky to survive.”
Judge Larkin described the speed as ‘extraordinary’ and commented that she had never heard of someone driving so fast.
Garda Cyril Page told the court that Mr Mongan of Thornfield Drive, Lisnamult, Roscommon town was detected driving at 174 km ph in a 120km speed zone at Carrigoran, Newmarket on Fergus at around 7.35pm on July 7th last.
Garda Page told the court that he and a colleague pursued Mr Mongan in a Garda patrol car where Mr Mongan reached a speed of 200 kmph.
Mr Mongan was initially charged with a count of dangerous driving which carries an automatic two year driving ban on conviction.
However, Mr Mongan pleaded guilty to the less serious charge of careless driving.
Garda Page said that Mr Mongan was very compliant when stopped by Gardai.
He said: “Mr Mongan was working the next morning and trying to get home to Roscommon. He was working very early.”
Ms Godfrey stated that her client had never received any penalty points through driving for his employer, a demolition and civil construction firm.
Ms Godfrey said that Mr Mongan apologises to the court and will not repeat this behaviour. He said: “Mr Mongan understands how serious this is.”
Ms Godfrey said that Mr Mongan depends on driving for his job and requested a six month postponed of the disqualification.
Judge Larkin granted the postponement to April 2022.
