Subculture using their cars 'to race and do donuts', says Cork judge in dangerous driving case
The defendant's solicitor said when his client said he was driving at 160 km/h he had not been cautioned and when cautioned he estimated the speed at the lower level of 140 or 150 km/h. File photo
A Waterford man who contested a charge of dangerous driving told a garda he thought he was driving at 160 km/h, the district court has heard.
Inspector Jason Wallace told Fermoy District Court that Sean McCarthy, aged 20, of Lios An Oir, Lismore, Co Waterford, was driving one of two vehicles observed travelling at very high speed near Rathcormac, Co Cork, on April 10, 2025.
Giving evidence, Garda Brian McCabe said he was driving along the main road near Rathcormac heading towards Corrin when two cars “in convoy” came past in the opposite direction at “very high speed”. Garda McCabe said that the speed limit on the road was 100 km/h and a short distance ahead it reduced to a 60 km/h zone.
The court was told that weather conditions at the time were good and there were other road users in the vicinity.
Garda McCabe told the court that he stopped the two cars a short time later and the driver of one of the vehicles — identified as Sean McCarthy — said he thought he was driving at 160 km/h when asked how fast he was going. Garda McCabe said McCarthy was cautioned and when questioned under caution he stated he thought he was driving at 140 or 150km/h.
Defence solicitor, Ciaran O’Keeffe, said that the garda did not have a speed gun and had no way of knowing how fast McCarthy was driving other than asking him. Mr O’Keeffe said when his client said he was driving at 160 km/h he had not been cautioned and when cautioned he estimated the speed at the lower level of 140 or 150 km/h.
Judge Colm Roberts said the speed limit on the road was 100 km/h and there was “no question” that driving at 140 km/h in the circumstances was dangerous. The judge said: “The reason he has been charged with dangerous driving is because he was driving dangerously.”
The judge added that there seemed to be “a subculture out there that believes this is an activity that is okay in certain parts of rural Ireland”.
He added: “Young people, instead of using their cars to get to work or college, are using them to race and do donuts.”
McCarthy was convicted of dangerous driving, disqualified from driving for two years and fined €250. The judge agreed to postpone the commencement of the disqualification to January 1, 2026, and recognisance for appeal was fixed at €500 with €250 required in cash.
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