Mayo motorist who was clocked at 188km/h on N5 is banned for two years

A two-year driving ban has been imposed on a 28-year-old motorist who was detected travelling at 180 kilometres per hour on the N5 dual carriageway outside Westport.

Liam Mooney, Ardgammon, Westport, appeared before Castlebar District Court where he was convicted of dangerous driving along the N5 dual carriageway at Kilbree Lower, Westport, on August 13, 2025.

The defendant admitted driving at 188km per hour in the 100km per hour zone but claimed his driving was careless rather than dangerous.

Mr. Evan O'Dwyer, solicitor for the defendant, told Judge Sandra Murphy that his client had given into the 'temptation of the open road' and was willing to plead guilty to a lesser charge of careless driving.

Judge Murphy declined to accept the plea to the lesser charge, indicating that the speed Mooney was doing was almost twice the speed limit, which she regarded as dangerous driving.

Garda Padraig Walsh told the court that he was conducting a speed check along the N5 when, at 5.42 p.m., he detected an Audi A4 driving in the direction of Westport at 188km per hour.

He followed the car which was driving in the overtaking lane and only slowed when it got caught behind another car travelling at a slower speed in the overtaking lane.

Garda Walsh said his colleague activated the lights and siren and the 2010 registered car came to a stop at Monamore, Westport.

The court was told Mooney was a novice driver at the time of the detection and passed roadside tests for both alcohol and drugs.

Garda Walsh said Mooney was cooperative at all times at the scene and he arrested him for dangerous driving and brought him to Westport Garda Station.

Mr. O'Dwyer said his client accepted his criminal culpability in that he was driving over the speed limit but denied that it was dangerous.

However, Garda Walsh disagreed, saying that the road was busy at the time and the sun was low and that Mooney was a novice driver and had driven at all times in the overtaking lane.

Mr. O'Dwyer said his client gave into the temptation of the good road and there was no question that Mooney was wrong to drive at the speed and now has to face the consequences of his actions.

Mr. O'Dwyer added that his client has not taken the matter lightly and completed a driver awareness course.

Having read his driver awareness report, Judge Murphy said that Mooney has to be commended for the steps he has taken since his detection and noted that the report found that Mooney had gained awareness of the consequences of driving dangerously and he had learned from his experience.

Along with the two-year driving ban she imposed a fine of €350.

* Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.