Derry man drove side-by-side with car at 200km on dual carriageway

A 20-year-old Derry man travelled side-by-side with another vehicle on a dual carriageway outside Letterkenny at speeds of up to 200km, Letterkenny District Court heard today.

Inspector Michael Harrison told Judge Paul Kelly that gardaí observed two vehicles, one of which was a Volkswagen Passat being driven by Dylan Hasson, at 11.20pm on September 27th last at Raymoghey in Manorcuningham. The gardaí activated the blue lights and brought the vehicles to a halt and spoke to Hasson, who could offer no explanation for his manner of driving. He was arrested and charged with dangerous driving. The Inspector added that the gardaí had thought Hasson may have been on drugs given his manner of driving but a urine sample taken from the defendant had been free of alcohol and drugs.

Judge Kelly repeatedly asked Inspector Harrison to repeat the speeds travelled by Hasson: “I have never heard of speeds that have come close to 200km in this court or any other,” he said.

The court heard that Hasson, of 31 Templetown Park, Maydown in Derry, had no previous convictions in either jurisdiction.

Defence solicitor Ciaran MacLochlainn said his client appreciated that the speed involved was ridiculous and added that Hasson was keen to complete the Pro-Social Driving Course.

Judge Kelly ordered Hasson to complete the course and adjourned the case until February 8th.