Portlaoise Court: Woman caught at 181kph escapes driving ban
Portlaoise Courthouse. File image
A WOMAN who was caught speeding at 181kph in Laois has kept her driving licence, after paying €5,000 to a hospice.
The 22-year-old’s case was adjourned at Portlaoise District Court in June, after she admitted vastly exceeding the 120kph motorway speed limit on the M7 at Cappakeel on 18 May 2025, when she was aged 21.
Judge Andrew Cody agreed to reduce a dangerous driving charge, which carries an automatic disqualification, to one of careless driving, on condition that she paid a €5,000 donation to North Tipperary Hospice before 24 July.
In court last Thursday, Caoimhe Dunne Brennan of 10 Schoolhouse Gate, Ballinkillen, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow produced a receipt showing that she paid the full donation.
At the original hearing, Garda Roy Cooper said he stopped the defendant driving a 161-registered BMW 420 at 11.30am, after recording the high speed. The driver said she was travelling back from Dublin, there was no alcohol in her system and she had no previous convictions.
Defending solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said his client was originally from Carlow but is living in Tipperary, where she is a very highly regarded social care worker with Rehabcare. Her driving licence is essential to her employment.
The solicitor said Ms Dunne Brennan brought €3,000 to court, in the hope of avoiding the loss of her licence by making a donation.
He said: “She is potentially going to lose everything due to a moment of madness.”
Garda Cooper confirmed for Judge Cody that the woman was very unlikely to reoffend, adding: “She is one of the few that you won’t see back before you.”
The judge said that, while it was “a huge speed”, he would reduce the charge to careless driving subject to a higher donation of €5,000.
At the resumed hearing, Mr Fitzgerald recalled that “glowing references” were submitted on his client’s behalf and members of her family were supporting her in court. He said: “What happened appears to be an aberration and it is certainly not going to happen again.”
Ms Dunne Brennan was convicted of careless driving, with no disqualification.
