Motorist clocked at 193km/h on Mayo N5 is banned for two years

A Ukrainian man who was detected travelling at almost twice the speed limit on the N5 has been disqualified from driving for two years.

Yaraslav Polonskyi, Castlegrove West, Castlebar, pleaded guilty at Castlebar District Court to dangerous driving arising from an incident on May 15 last.

Garda Lynott told the court that at 10.02 p.m. he detected a vehicle travelling Westport bound on the N5 at 193km/h in a 100km/h zone. While following the car, he observed it overtake another vehicle before he activated his blue lights and stopped the vehicle.

The vehicle was stopped and the driver identified himself as Yaraslav Polonskyi, producing a Ukrainian driving licence.

Garda Lynott said he contacted a translator and, through the interpreter, cautioned the accused. Polonskyi was tested for alcohol and drugs, with both tests returning negative results.

Defence solicitor Mr. Gary Mulchrone said his client was fully cooperative at the roadside and believed the speedometer in his car was indicating miles per hour rather than kilometres per hour.

He said the incident occurred on a dual carriageway with a central barrier and the vehicle was in perfect condition on a dry road.

Mr. Mulchrone told the court that Polonskyi has been in Ireland since June 2024, is 32 years of age, married with two children, and works in a local supermarket, earning €250 per week.

His wife works as a nail technician and the family is renting accommodation for €300 per week.

He confirmed that his client had not come to garda attention before or since the incident and had put his hands up at the earliest opportunity.

owever, he acknowledged that the speed involved was “extraordinary” and said he could not seek to have the charge reduced to careless driving.

Judge Sandra Murphy said the speed amounted to dangerous driving and required a conscious decision.

The judge convicted Polonskyi, fined him €350, allowing six months to pay, and disqualified him from driving for two years.

Polonskyi’s Ukrainian driving licence was produced to the court.

*Published under the Courts Reporting Scheme.