Teacher caught driving at double the speed limit told Garda “you were very harsh for stopping me”

Garda speed check (stock image)

A teacher who was caught speeding at 102 km/h in a 50 km/h zone with two infant children in the car said, “You were very harsh for stopping me,” when she was caught by a Garda speed check.

Prosecuting, Inspector Tony O’Sullivan told Fermoy District Court that Katherine Boyle, 57, of Kilronan, Cahir. Co. Tipperary, was observed driving a blue Skoda Octavia at more than twice the speed limit at Church Quarter, Kilbehenny, Co. Limerick on Saturday, April 23, 2022. When she was stopped, it was observed that there were two infant children in the back of the car and Ms Boyle told the Garda: “You were very harsh for stopping me.”

Ms Boyle’s solicitor said that the incident happened two years ago and that since then, Ms Boyle has recognised the seriousness of the offence. He said that she has learned her lesson and has taken an advanced driving course in Dublin.

He said: “There is lots of remorse and lots of recognition on her part. She is a maths teacher in Dublin and she is very aware of the seriousness of the situation.”

Ms Boyle was charged with dangerous driving but her solicitor asked Judge Colm Roberts to consider reducing the charge to one of careless driving, which would not incur an automatic driving ban. Judge Roberts said that Ms Boyle had already done what he would have asked her to do and agreed to reduce the charge.

He said: “There seems to be a disconnect between accidents and speed, the standard of driving and the standard of the roads has probably reduced. So the issue of speed becomes more important. You can’t do anything about other people’s driving or about the quality of the road but you can control your own speed.”

He added: “As a teacher, you have a big responsibility and you should be giving a good example.”

Ms Boyle was convicted of careless driving, fined €500 and given two months to pay.

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