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10 Nov 2025
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10 Nov 2025
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Carrick-on-Shannon Courthouse
A Cavan man had a speeding charge thrown out after the court accepted he was not behind the wheel when the vehicle was detected travelling above the limit.
Pat Gaynor, Antiduff, Ballyhaise, Co Cavan, appeared before Carrick-on-Shannon District Court on October 28th charged with exceeding the 60 km/h speed limit, after a vehicle registered in his name was recorded driving at 76 km/h in a 60 km/h zone at Wilton, Carrick-on-Shannon.
Garda Kevin Harrington told the court he detected the vehicle travelling over the limit on October 12th, 2024, and a fixed-charge penalty notice was issued to Gaynor as the registered owner.
However, defence solicitor Cormac Conway said Mr Gaynor had never driven the car, explaining that he had purchased the vehicle damaged and left it with Duffy Commercials in Fuerty for repairs and resale. The court heard the vehicle had been test-driven by another man who later returned it, and the speeding notice only surfaced after it arrived to Mr Gaynor’s home.
Giving evidence, Mr Gaynor said: “I never drove the car at all. It was in the garage the whole time.”
Garage owner Mr Duffy gave evidence confirming that once the notice arrived, he attempted to nominate the test driver, forwarding his name, address and insurance details, and even sending a company cheque to pay the fine on his behalf. The fixed-charge office rejected the nomination due to an issue with supporting documentation.
Mr Gaynor also gave evidence confirming he never drove the vehicle, and was unaware of the speeding notice until family members notified him.
Judge Éiteáin Cunningham said that although Gaynor was properly recorded as the registered owner, she accepted the evidence that he was not the driver, and that genuine and reasonable efforts were made to identify the correct person.
“I am satisfied the accused was not driving at the time,” Judge Cunningham ruled. “The case is dismissed.”
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