Court throws out 20 of 34 speeding cases this week

Almost two-thirds of the speeding summonses issued on foot of fixed charge notices which came before Killarney District Court this week have been thrown out.

Spelling errors, place name mix-ups, change of address, non-receipt of the fixed charge notice, and the issue of the summons to the spouse of the driver or to a person who no longer owned said vehicle were among the reasons 20 of 34 summonses on the court list were withdrawn, struck out, or dismissed.

There were just eight convictions, with fines ranging between €75 and €125. The rest of the cases were adjourned.

One Cork man, who twice returned his payment to the charge office but who twice did not include his licence details and so had his payment rejected, had his case struck out after his solicitor Joe Mannix argued the inclusion of the licence was not an order but a recommendation.

The driver had been doing 109km/h in a 100km zone when detected by a speed van in February in Kerry.

Judge James O’Connor said the fact it was only a recommendation left the door open and he struck out the summons.

The alleged traffic offences took up much of the morning’s court work and up to six speed van operators gave evidence.

A number of motorists received speeding summonses for being just over the speed limit — doing 69km/h in a 60km zone at Faha, Killarney, for example.

The convicted motorists have three penalty points enforced on their licence, and lasting for three years.