Dangerous driving - Why are they still allowed on the road?

By CALLING for an internal investigation by the Garda Commissioner into the garda handling of a case before him, District Court Judge John Neilan may have done a public service, but in a direction which he may not have intended, or anticipated.

That direction could, and should, be in a sharper and more urgent debate on judges’ attitudes to sentencing, which has been the source of public disquiet for quite a long time.

Judge Neilan’s concern arises from the case of two men, both of whom were convicted by the judge of dangerous driving and fined €2,000 each, after being caught driving at speeds of up to 200kph.