Kerry TD offers 'sincere apology' for driving in excess of 190km/h

Kenneth Fox

Fianna Fáil TD Michael Cahill has offered a "sincere and unreserved" apology for driving at an unacceptable speed on the M8 in County Cork.

It happened between Mitchelstown and Fermoy last year, where he was driving at speeds "in excess of 190km/h and very close to 200km/h."

In a statement on Friday, Deputy Cahill says that at the time, he was travelling from Leinster House to a meeting at St Mary of the Angels in St Francis' Special School in Beaufort, Co Kerry, when he was stopped by a garda.

He said he is very sorry, and there is no excuse for his actions, before adding, "I am acutely aware of the number of serious and fatal accidents on our roads, the devastating impact these tragedies have on families and the fact that excessive speed is a major contributory factor." 

Mr Cahill said he will not appeal the conviction and will step back as a member of the Joint Oireachtas Justice Committee.

The Taoiseach, Micheál Martin said he was informed that Deputy Michael Cahill was convicted in the District Court for dangerous driving.

In a statement, he said, "I have spoken to Deputy Cahill. This incident, which took place last year, was completely and utterly unacceptable. He accepts this and apologises.

"He has rightly received his punishment in the courts, a decision he fully accepts.

"As legislators, Dáil deputies have a particular responsibility to set the right example, and Deputy Cahill has accepted that this incident let down both his family and the wider community.

"He has also decided to step down from the Justice Committee. The matter will also be considered by the party’s Rules & Procedures Committee in due course."