Letterkenny Courthouse

Baffled Judge asks why many on motoring charges drive 2002 Lexus?

May 21, 2020

A Judge has asked why the majority of young drivers coming before him on motoring charges are driving the same car registered in the same year – a 2002 Lexus?

Judge Paul Kelly made his comments as a young man pleaded guilty to performing ‘doughnuts’ in front of his friends in Co Donegal.

Daniel McCormack was charged with dangerous driving at Monreagh, Carrigans just after 3am on June 26th last year.

Letterkenny District Court was told that 23-year-old McCormack, of Glendowan, Churchill was spotted by Gardai performing doughnuts at a junction while friends looked on.

He was stopped and arrested and was immediately co-operative with Gardai and apologised.

Judge Kelly said “I suppose the others were waiting their turn?” to which he was told they were.

He then asked what type of car the accused was driving saying it was probably a Lexus or a certain year.

The court was told it was indeed a Lexus, a 2002 registration.

Judge Kelly asked “All these cars seem to be zero two Lexus’. Why are they all Lexus? Is there something unique about them?”

Garda Inspector David Durkin replied “They might be easier to manoeuvre.”

Judge Kelly asked McCormack what he was driving now and he was told a 2012 BMW.

Solicitor for the accused, Mr Seamus Gunn, said his client was genuinely apologetic and that he had never come across such an industrious young man.

He said that although he worked with a construction company in Galway he was coming home at weekends to look after his grandparents on the family farm.

He said that his client’s employer, who had sent in a very favourable reference, would be left with no choice but to let him go if he lost his driving license as he drove machinery for them.

He pleaded with Judge Kelly to reduce the charge from dangerous driving to careless driving.

The Judge agreed as he said that McCormack had not come before the courts before and had apologised to Gardai straight away.

He fined him €650 and warned him that he faced a disqualification and jail if he came before him again.


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