Kerry man who towed trailer at 132km/h avoids dangerous driving conviction

The plumber was convicted of careless driving, fined €500, and given four months to pay the fine

A garda speed check at Gortore, Kilworth, Co Cork recorded a Subaru Forester car towing a trailer travelling at 132 km/h where the speed limit was 80 km/h, the court was told. File picture

A plumber from Co Kerry who was recorded by a garda checkpoint towing a trailer at more than 50 km/h over the speed limit has avoided a conviction for dangerous driving in the district court.

Court presenter Sergeant Majella O’Sullivan told Fermoy District Court that a garda speed check at Gortore, Kilworth, Co Cork recorded a Subaru Forester car towing a trailer travelling at 132 km/h where the speed limit was 80 km/h. 

The driver of the car was Diarmuid Lynch, 57 of Derryreag, Clonkeen, Co Kerry.

Defence solicitor Matthew Bermingham said his client was a hardworking man who had no previous convictions of any kind and had been driving for 40 years without incident. 

He said that Mr Lynch accepted the facts and was taking the matter “very seriously.” He added that the trailer was empty at the time and the incident occurred on a wide and straight stretch of road.

He said that the incident was an “aberration” on Mr Lynch’s part. Mr Bermingham asked Judge Miriam Walsh to consider reducing the charge from dangerous driving, which carries a mandatory disqualification of two years on conviction, to the lesser charge of careless driving.

Judge Walsh said that the speed was clearly excessive but given Mr Lynch’s clean record she would agree to reduce the charge. Mr Lynch was convicted of careless driving, fined €500 and given four months to pay the fine.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme