Malin Head resident fined €500 in court for driving at 73kph in a 60kph zone

A man living in Malin Head has been fined €500 for driving at a speed of 73 kilometres per hour in a 60kph zone in Carndonagh just over a year ago.

Yurii Avtukhovych, of Holiday Let 4, Ballygorman, Malin Head, did not appear before Carndonagh District Court, sitting in Buncrana Courthouse, to answer a charge of speeding against him.

However, Judge Emile Daly ruled that the case could go ahead after being shown proof that the 35-year-old defendant was notified.

A separate charge of no road tax against Mr Avtukhovych was thrown out after the court heard he had paid all the arrears in full.

Sergeant Vincent Muldoon outlined the evidence in the case. He testified that he was conducting a speed checkpoint along a 60kph zone at Malin Road, Carndonagh, on Thursday, December 12, 2024.

At 3.10pm that afternoon, Sgt Muldoon clocked a vehicle – a 2005-registered Audi A3 – travelling at a speed of 73kph.

He stopped the vehicle, which was being driven by Mr Avtukhovych.

Sgt Muldoon said the car was not taxed at the time, but Mr Avtukhovych “did pay the arrears, so I’d be happy enough to strike out the non-display of tax [charge].”

The Garda witness told the court that the defendant had paid the tax from June 2024 until May 31, 2025, and then the vehicle was sold on.

Sgt Muldoon further explained how fixed charge penalty notices were issued, “but no attempt was made to pay any of the tickets.”

Judge Daly said the last opportunity to pay the speeding fine, before it proceeded to court, would have been in the sum of €320.

She then convicted Mr Avtukhovych of speeding and fined him €500, with four months to pay.

The judge formally dismissed the separate Section 73 charge of failure to display a valid tax disc in light of the evidence given.