Kerry Fianna Fáil TD Michael Cahill was convicted of dangerous driving after a court heard he was driving at over 190kph on a motorway last March as a judge warned him “speed kills”.
Michael Cahill of Rossbeigh, Glenbeigh, who is a member of the Dáil’s Joint Justice Committee was seen by Garda Peter O’Loughlin, who was in an unmarked Garda car, speeding along the M8 between Mitchelstown and Fermoy on March 13th last.
Garda O’Loughlin told Fermoy District Court today he was driving as part of a stream of traffic when they were overtaken by a brown Audi travelling at “high speed”.
He pulled out and followed him. He saw the car come up behind a van which was overtaking a truck.
The car was being driven very aggressively. It went up exceptionally close to the vehicle and the van driver pulled in behind the truck. The driver continued on for about four or five kilometres at speeds in excess of 190kph.
Garda O’Loughlin put on his blue light and it took the driver in front some time to realise he was behind him.
When he stopped he spoke to him about the manner of his driving.
The driver informed him he was a TD and was in a hurry to get to a function in Cork.
Deputy Cahill was charged with a single charge of dangerous driving on March 13th last at Ballinamona and Ballybeg, near Mitchelstown.
Judge Colm Roberts said Deputy Cahill should be aware that speed kills and he, as a member of parliament should be fully aware of this.
Judge Roberts said, “He should be aware that the number of deaths on the roads are up now".
He said “Certain driving and the speed that exists, the lack of courtesy, the lack of understanding lane discipline all contribute” adding that when driving to courts in Fermoy and Midleton he is taking his life in his hands.
He said there were many drivers looking at phones when they shouldn’t be and drivers with no appreciation of other road users are contributing to a very serious situation.
And he pointed out that as a judge he has to be careful to show good example on the roads as he cannot expects the public to do things he wouldn’t do “and that goes for a member of parliament as well”.
He said he was convicting Deputy Cahill on the dangerous driving charge as he had met the criteria for this with excessive speed, aggressive driving and a lack of awareness when he didn’t see the Garda car with its blue light for some time.
He disqualified the defendant from driving for two years and fined him €500.
Deputy Cahill’s solicitor Ciaran O’Keeffe, who said his client was late for an important event he had personally organised in Kerry and because of a series of matters he was running late. He applied to have recognisances set in the event of an appeal.
After the hearing Deputy Cahill apologised for his behaviour on the day.
He said, “I left Dublin that morning - I had meetings that morning and I accommodated an interview with Radio Kerry, all of which delayed me. I was going to a very special event in Kerry that I had organised myself. Minister Michael Moynihan was coming down to St Mary of the Angels special school in Beaufort to meet with parents of children with profound disabilities.
“I was really anxious to be there as I had organised it.
“I am sorry this happened. I know better but things just went against me on the day big time. I had been in the Dail and in Leinster House from early that morning.
"I have apologised and I am apologising. This is an embarrassment for me, for my wife and adult children, who are actually annoyed with me to be here at all. I’m annoyed at myself.
“I would be responsible and I know I’m in a position of making laws and carrying out improvement works to dangerous junctions and all of that. I’ve been doing that all my life as a councillor, the past 35 years as a councillor.
"We have a huge issue in Kerry , and I’m not making excuses here, but I have concentrated big time since I was elected for respite for these families who don't get any respite for six or seven months. That was very much in my mind as I wanted to be there for this particular meeting, having met the parents, especially the mums”.
Asked if he was going to appeal the conviction he said, “I will be discussing that with my solicitor”.
