Man on his way to funeral in Offaly caught driving at speed at 'outrageous speed' on motorway

A man who was driving to a funeral in Offaly was driving at what was described in court as an 'outrageous speed'.

Noel Tynan, 63, of 2 Iona Park, Glasnevin, Dublin was charged with dangerous driving at Clonaghdoon, Borris-in-Ossory on February 11 this year. This was reduced to careless driving.

Garda Mark Rabbitte told the court that on February 11 at 11.45am at Derrymore, Roscrea he arrested Mr Tynan and took him to Roscrea garda station. Garda Rabbitte said he was operating a speed check on the M7 Borris-in-Ossory when he detected a car doing 185kph in a 120km zone. He stopped the car at Derrymore.

Appearing for Mr Tynan, solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said he regretted his speed. He was heading to a friend’s funeral.
Garda Rabbitte said that Mr Tynan had been cooperative and very apologetic.

Ms Fitzpatrick said he was going to a funeral in Coolderry, and he had received a call from his sister saying the funeral had arrived.

Judge Alec Gabbett said he was familiar with that part of the motorway and he said it was a dangerous part of the road. He noted it was not a straight stretch of the road.

Garda Rabbitte said the weather was dry and good on the day.

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Judge Gabbett acceded to Ms Fitzpatrick’s application to reduce the dangerous driving charge to one of careless driving.
He noted, however, that that speed was one at which a plane took off.

Ms Fitzpatrick said it was an outrageous speed. Mr Tynan had no previous convictions for road traffic offences. He had a number of public houses and was also involved in real estate.

He was originally from Coolderry and his mother still lived there and he visited at weekends. This was an aberration in his driving.

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He had flown in from Bucharest that morning to attend the funeral. He had only learned of the death and rushed home for it.
Judge Gabbett noted his intentions were honourable. He fined him €1,000 and disqualified him for three months.

Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal.