Two years ago a motorist was detected driving at 202km/h on the M6 motorway between Dublin and Galway.
But he escaped a mandatory ban for driving. Why? It was down to money.
A charge of dangerous driving against him was reduced to careless driving because he made a €20,000 donation to a charity supporting disabled football players.
When the 44-year-old man appeared before District Court Judge Andrew Cody in 2023 on a charge of dangerous driving, he indicated, in response to the judge, he was willing to make a donation to charity.
Judge Cody said, unless the man paid €20,000, he would be facing a three-year ban and a significant suspended sentence.
[ Government urged to act as speeding motorists swerve driving bans with charity donations ]
He was told the man was earning €36,000 annually and would struggle to pay €20,000 but could get a loan for €10,000.
The judge, whose District Court area includes Laois and Offaly, said €20,000 would have to be paid by June 1st 2023, saying the speed he was travelling was “astronomical” and there must be a “significant and painful” deterrent.
The money, the judge said, would be paid to the Midlands United Powerchair Football Club which had three players with disabilities representing
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