Laois teen sentenced to jail for speeding past gardaí on motorway
Photo for illustrative purposes only
AN UNLICENSED teenage driver who overtook an unmarked garda car at 206kph, then offended again two months later whilst on bail from the first offence was jailed for 15 months recently and disqualified for four years.
“This was purely suicidal, playing lottery with the lives of other road users … and we’re losing too many lives on our roads and due to bad and dangerous drivers,” said Judge Desmond Zaidan to Rico Donoghue (19) of Heather Lane, Esker Hills, Port Laoise.
Athy District Court heard how the defendant was apprehended on 2 March 2025 on the M9 at Castlemartin, Kilcullen, when he overtook the garda vehicle at 206kph.
“He had no ‘L’ plate, and there were three teenage passengers in the car,” said Sergeant Dave Hanrahan.
On a morning two months later, the defendant was seen driving at Ardrew Meadows in “a white Ford was seen travelling at pace going round a blind right-hand bend losing control as he entered the estate”.
“Why did he drive this way?” asked the judge.
“Learner driver, no licence,” said Sgt Hanrahan.
“He was driving his father’s car, realises the error of his ways and the stupidity of his behaviour,” said his solicitor, Nicholas Reynolds.
“He has ceased driving, and in fact his father won’t let him drive”.
The defendant had no previous convictions.
“Could the court deal with this as leniently as possible?” asked Mr Reynolds.
“The second offence happened while he was on bail for the first offence,” the sergeant clarified.
“These are significant aggravating features,” noted the judge.
“I accept the roads were dry and the traffic were light, but we’re losing too many lives on our roads due to bad and dangerous drivers,” he said.
He imposed a sentence of 10 months in jail for the 206kph, added five months consecutive for the second offence two months later, and imposed a four year ban.
An appeal bond of €500 was set.
