Man caught driving at 152 km/h in Cork avoids dangerous driving conviction

A Wexford man who was seen driving at 152 km/h in a 100 km/h zone has avoided a conviction for dangerous driving in the district court.

Sergeant Eimear O’Connell told Macroom District Court that Liam Rochford, aged 32, of Croase, Cleariestown, Co Wexford was observed by a garda speed check at 12.30pm on November 16, 2024, travelling at 152 km/h on the N22 Macroom bypass in Co Cork.

The court heard that Rochford was driving a Vauxhall Insignia car and conditions at the time were wet, misty and foggy and the road was busy with traffic. Rochford was pulled over and told gardaí he did not realise the road had a 100 km/h limit and believed it was a 120 km/h zone.

Defence solicitor Pat Horan said Rochford had no previous convictions of any kind, was in full-time employment and had never come to garda attention for any reason. He added that Rochford was fully co-operative and had undertaken an advanced driving course since the incident at a cost of €800.

Judge Joanne Carroll said Rochford made an error on the day but stopped straight away. She accepted that Rochford had also gone to great trouble to ensure it would not happen again and she agreed to Mr Horan’s request to reduce to charge from dangerous driving to the lesser charge of careless driving. 

Unlike dangerous driving a careless driving conviction does not carry a mandatory driving disqualification. Rochford was convicted of careless driving, fined €100 and given three months to pay the fine.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.