Dangerous driving conviction for man who undertook ‘slow’ garda on Kilkenny road

A motorist who undertook an off-duty garda who was driving ‘too slowly’ on the motorway, at 100kph, has been convicted of dangerous driving.

Danay Berhane, 2 House Apartments, Stoneyford, was also fined €750 by Kilkenny District Court.

Garda Matt Donnellan gave evidence that on September 9, 2021, a garda who was returning home from work in their private vehicle, at approximately 4am, was driving on the M9 motorway, towards Knocktopher.
The motorway was empty and it was raining at the time.

As the garda came to the Knocktopher motorway exit a car approached from behind, at speed. It had its full lights on. The approaching car undertook the garda, using the layby, and exited the motorway.
The car was not found on the night but dashcam footage from the garda’s car identified the vehicle.

On September 12, 2021, Garda Donnellan stopped Mr Berhane on Main Street, Stoneyford. He was living there at the time.
Mr Berhane admitted driving on the motorway on the night in question. He had been returning from Waterford and could not give an explanation for his driving.
Mr Berhane was cooperative but couldn’t give any rationale for his driving.

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Solicitor Chris Hogan said Mr Berhane is a ‘fairly well renowned chef’ and works in a lot of very prestigious hotels. On this night he was coming home from a very late shift. He had to get back up at 6.30am the next morning.

Mr Hogan said his client said the car driving in front of him on the motorway was ‘driving quite slowly, at 100kph.’

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Mr Berhane undertook because he moved way too early to take his turn off. He put this down to tiredness, the solicitor said.
Judge Geraldine Carthy convicted Mr Berhane, imposing a fine of €750 and imposing a driving disqualification for two years.