Driving ban for man who was 'racing' in jeep towing trailer

A Donegal man has been put off the road after being caught racing a jeep at high speed while towing a trailer.

Gardai apprehended Stephen McDaid engaged in a race with another jeep on the weekend that had been planned for the cancelled Donegal International Rally in 2021.

McDaid hit speeds of up to 150km/h – almost twice the speed limit – on a busy road, Letterkenny District Court heard.

McDaid, a 37-year-old of Ryelands House, Lismoughrey, Newtowncunningham, was not present in court and had no legal representative.

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham said she was happy to proceed in the absence of McDaid.

Detective Garda Donal Kelly told the court that he was on mobile patrol on Port Road, Letterkenny, on June 20, 2021. Traffic was heavy at the time, he said.

While the Donegal International Rally was cancelled, having been scheduled for that weekend, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a large volume of people were still present in Letterkenny.

Detective Garda Kelly said he observed a red Mitsubishi L200 jeep in convoy with a Ford Raptor jeep, which was towing a trailer.

Detective Garda Kelly was in an unmarked patrol car and observed the vehicles speeding. He told the court that he saw the vehicles racing out the dual carriageway and the Ford Raptor reached a speed of 150km/h at the townland of Dromore.

The road in question is governed by a speed limit of 100km/h.

Gardai stopped the vehicle at the end of the dual carriageway and McDaid told officers: “I was acting the c*** and I apologise.”

When McDaid was cautioned, Gardai asked if he was aware that the speed limit was 80km/h while towing a trailer, the accused responded: “I'm not going to deny it. I was stupid. It was a new jeep and I was trying to test it out.”

Sergeant Gerard Dalton told the court that McDaid has three previous convictions for road traffic offences: For holding a mobile phone while driving; for the non-display of an insurance disc; and for speeding.

Judge Cunningham said she found the facts proven in the case. Judge Cunningham disqualified McDaid for two years and imposed a fine of €200, allowing five months to pay.

Recognisance in the event of an appeal was fixed at €200.