A man caught driving at 167km/h in Donegal has been allowed to keep his licence – after scoring full marks in the Pro Social Driving Course.
Simon Canning appeared before Buncrana District Court after being charged with dangerous driving.
A guilty plea by the 45-year-old, of Laurel Drive, Strabane, to a lesser charge of careless driving was accepted by the court.
Sergeant Sean McDaid told the court that Garda Sean Tully was operating a speed check at Castleforward, Newtowncunningham at 10.50am on February 26, 2024.
A Mercedes E220 being driven by Canning was clocked at 167km/h in an area governed by a 100km/h speed limit. Road conditions on the day were dry, the court heard.
Mr Ciaran Mac Lochlainn, solicitor for Canning, said his client, a project coordinator, was in a line of cars that came up behind a tractor. The cars, Mr Mac Lochlainn said, “took turns to pass out the tractor. He sped up, passed out the tractor and caught up with the other cars.”
Canning completed the Pro Social Driving Course and his report was handed into the court.
The results of his course were described by Mr Mac Lochlainn as “quite remarkable”.
“I have never seen an instance before where a person got full marks,” Mr Mac Lochlainn said. “It is quite remarkable in that regard. He was also constructively involved with other people on the course and helped them along.”
Mr Mac Lochlainn said his client, who has no previous convictions, cooperated fully with the gardai.
Judge Ciaran Liddy told Canning that he had been “well advised in the matter” and commended his Pro Social Driving Course.
While noting that the speed was “excessive”, Judge Liddy accepted a plea to a careless driving charge and fined Canning €200.