This article is from page 11 of the 2006-01-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 11 JPG
TWO young motorists who raced each other on the dual carriageway between Clare and Limerick, at up to 110 miles per hour, did not realise they had passed out an unmarked garda car.
Before Shannon District Court were Tony Guerin (23), of Ballahadigue, Listowel, and Thomas Dillane (22), of Kilconlea, Abbeyfeale, who were both convicted of dangerous driving, at Moyhill, Cratloe, on November 16, 2005.
Sergeant Dermot O’Connor told the court he was travelling in an unmarked patrol car when he saw two cars travelling in excess of the speed limit, on the Limerick-bound lane.
Both cars completed an overtake on the inside lane, before being stopped by gardaí at Moyhill, Cratloe.
“It was obvious when they overtook the unmarked garda car, they didn’t twig it was an unmarked garda car. There was a bit of a race going on,” said Sgt O’Connor.
Defending solicitor Rachel Dobson said that what happened was “of the utmost stupidity and could have had much more dire consequences” not only for the accused men, but also for other road users.
Guerin, she said, was a butcher in Listowel and as part of his work, travelled throughout parts of Limerick and Kerry. Dillane was an assistant manager in a supermarket in Newcastle and helped to care for a member of his family.
Judge Aeneas McCarthy fined each €1,250, but said that given that there were special reasons, he would not impose a disqualification.