Judge Paul Kelly
A JUDGE has hit out at the small number of rally fans who committed driving offences during the Rally Weekend.
Judge Paul Kelly was speaking today at Letterkenny District Court as he dealt with a number of cases related to incidents during the June event.
Gardaí made 58 rally related arrests over three days.
Judge Kelly heard a number of cases involving rally ‘fans’ from outside Donegal – most of those before the court where from outside the county.
He said: “It’s clear now that word has gone out to other counties that people can come to Letterkenny and drive like mad men (during the rally) and they think it’s great craic.”
The judge said it was also clear that some of those before the court were driving particular cars and if people wanted to drive at speed they could do so only if they entered as rally competitors and did so in the controlled environment of the rally.
He was speaking as he warned a driver that he was in danger of losing both his liberty and his licence after being caught dangerous driving at more than 170km/hr on dual carriageway from Manorcunningham to Letterkenny.
Craig Pardy pleaded guilty to dangerous driving after Sgt Charlene Anderson reported how Pardy had been driving the middle of three cars speeding through the townland of Dromore at 8.30pm on Friday June 17.
Inspector Goretti Sheridan said the three cars were going so fast the garda car could not keep up with them.
As the cars slowed at the Dry Arch roundabout, Pardy sped into the inside lane in his yellow Honda Civic. He was arrested but refused to co-operate with gardaí.
The IT consultant based in Dublin but with an address at Ashbrook Drive, Birr Co Offaly, was in court for the hearing.
Defence solicitor Kevin McElhinney said Pardy had never been in Letterkenny before and was trying to keep up with his friends.
Judge Kelly said Pardy is in danger of losing his liberty and his licence and said people coming to Letterkenny to drive “like mad men” was not acceptable.
He said the charge of dangerous driving was as serious one compared to others he had heard and refused to deal with the case today.
He ordered Pardy to take part in the Pro-Social Driving Programme and to pay €500 towards the cost of it.
He adjourned the sentence until October 3.