Professional driver who was caught doing 158kph in a 100kph zone in Donegal

A professional driver who was caught doing 158kph in a 100kph zone in his wife's new car has avoided a driving ban.

William McMullan appeared at Letterkenny District Court charged with dangerous driving. The 42-year-old was caught by Gardai speeding at Illistrin, Kilmacrennan at 11.36pm on August 17.

The court was told the accused man was driving his wife's new Toyota Rav 4 car and was returning home from work on the night in question. McMullan's solicitor, Mr Patsy Gallagher, said there was no other traffic on the road at the time and the driving conditions were dry.

"He was fully cooperative and fully apologetic," he said of McMullan. "It was a speed trap and he stopped immediately and had a few choice words for himself. He wasn't arrested but was processed in the normal way and dealt with in the first opportunity."

Mr Gallagher added that his client, with an address at Chapel Road in Dunfanaghy, drives for a living and has no previous convictions of any kind.

He asked the court if it would consider reducing the charge from a Section 53 of dangerous driving to a charge of Section 52 of careless driving, considering he had no previous convictions.

Judge Deirdre Gearty said she noted the speed was excessive but noted the accused had no previous convictions and would accept a plea to the lesser Section 52 charge of careless driving. She fined McMullan €200 and allowed him five months to pay.

She added that she was not disqualifying McMullan as she was conscious that he is a professional driver, but added that he should be more conscious of his speed and that trying out his wife's new car was "not a good idea."