Driver doing 175kmh on Louth motorway has two-year disqualification removed on appeal
A 46-year-old man who said he feared being late for work when travelling at 175kmh on the motorway has successfully appealed a dangerous driving conviction.
Lukasz Janiak, Aghaboys House, Ballymascanlon, Dundalk, was fined €101 and disqualified for two years in the district court when admitting an offence which occurred on the M1 at Drumleck, Castlebellingham, at 2.40pm on February 4, 2026.
He was behind the wheel of an Audi A6 and told gardaí that he was on the way to help a friend. Road conditions were wet and traffic heavy.
Barrister Niall Mackin sought to have the charge reduced to careless driving.
He submitted to Dundalk Circuit Court that Mr Janiak was getting a friend for work and was afraid that that they were going to be late.
He was fully aware of the risk to himself and other road users. It was a foolish activity on the day.
The appellant has no previous convictions. Polish, he has been living in this country for 20 years and drives for a living with a delivery company in Ashbourne where he is a team leader, earning €650 per-week.
Mr Mackin continued that his client was at risk of losing his livelihood. He was willing to do a Driver Awareness Course.
“When someone drives like that on a busy motorway in the middle of the day, should he not be taken off the road?” Judge Sarah Berkeley asked.
A garda sergeant explained that once someone is detected travelling over 150kmh on the motorway (speed limit 120kmh), they are arrested for dangerous driving.
The judge said that she believed Mr Janiak should be given one chance.
He was convicted of the lesser charge of careless driving and fined €1,000. The disqualification was removed.
The court refused an application for legal aid.