Man, 33, was doing 177km/h on the dual carriageway

A 33-year-old man was told at Sligo District Court by Judge Kevin Kilrane to have €1,000 in court this Thursday for speeding excessively on the N4 dual carriageway.

Shane Anderson with an address of Tubberbride, Collooney, was charged with dangerous driving but pleaded guilty to careless driving.

Inspector Donal Sweeney told the court that on January 24 th 2016 Garda Cathal Brady detected a car speeding at Carrowgubbadagh, Sligo.

It was 11:40pm and the car in question was travelling at 177km/h.

Inspector Sweeney told the judge the speed limit on the road was 100km/h.

The car was being driven in the overtaking lane as it passed by the patrol car.

It then overtook another car as Garda Brady went in pursuit.

The car continued on at speed and turned off the road, where it eventually came to a stop.

When the garda asked the driver why he was driving at that speed, no explanation was given.

He was shown the speed he was travelling at on the speed detection gun.

The court was told that the road surface was also wet on the day.

Judge Kilrane said driving at 177km/h on a wet surface was extremely dangerous.

He questioned why he kept driving even though he knew the garda patrol car was in pursuit.

Defending solicitor Ms Laura Spellman said there was nowhere to pull in and he went off the dual carriageway onto the slip road to make a stop.

She said her client was an electrician by trade and asked Judge Kilrane if he could be as lenient as possible.

Anderson said he was driving his cousin’s car, a 1999 Toyota Altezza, at the time and it was a much more powerful car than his own.

Judge Kilrane told him that if he intends on holding his licence that he will have to pay a fine of €1,000 in a week’s time at the next court sitting.

He adjourned the matter until next Thursday.

Judge Kilrane said: “You are not a youngster anymore.

“Doing 177 km/h on this road in a 1999 vehicle is highly dangerous driving at that speed,” he added.