Portlaoise Court: Man drove over speed limit on motorway while disqualified - Courts - Laois Nationalist

He also pleaded guilty to driving while uninsured, drug-driving and to driving without a licence at the time.

A MAN who was driving at a speed of 147km/ph on a motorway through Co Laois while five times over the legally permitted drug-driving limit was sentenced to a total of five months in prison when he appeared before Portlaoise District Court.

Garda Sgt Casey told the court that on 8 February, while gardaí were on patrol along the M7 at Ballydavis, Portlaoise, they detected a car driving at a speed of 147km in the 120km zone.

When speaking with the driver, John Moran (34), Maple Court, Kennedy Park, Limerick they found that he was disqualified from driving. They carried out a roadside oral fluid test, which detected the presence of cannabis. A later evidential blood test showed a reading of 20ng, five times over the legally permitted level.

He pleaded guilty to driving while uninsured, drug-driving and to driving without a licence at the time.

Sgt Casey said that Mr Moran has 41 previous convictions, of which 23 related to road traffic offences.

Defending barrister Anne Doyle submitted that her client “has an appalling record.” She said that he had pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity and is holding his hands up to the offences.

Ms Doyle said: “The evening before, he had been smoking cannabis. He did not realise that he had been over the limit or was driving while under the influence. He states categorically that he will never get behind a wheel again.”

Judge Andrew Cody said: “He was doing 147 on a motorway, driving uninsured and five times over the legal limit for cannabis in his system. I’ve heard it all before. This will be his fourth for no insurance and third for intoxicated driving.”

He went on to impose five-month sentences for drug-driving and for driving while uninsured, both to run concurrently, and imposed ten-year driving bans and imposed a €250 fine for driving without a licence and a ten-year driving disqualification.