A District Court Judge has said he found it extraordinary that a woman with two young children who admitted two dangerous driving offences would risk life and limb by driving at 150 kilometers in a 100 kilometer zone and cut across a roundabout in appalling weather conditions.

Judge Kevin Kilraine made his remarks at Sligo Court, where Ellen O'Halloran, 3 April Rise, Cork Road, Limerick admitted the incidents at the Carraroe and the Collooney roundabout on July 31st last.

She was represented by Mr. Edmund Henry, solicitor.

Inspector Sean McGinty explained that Garda David Hannigan had been operating a speed check point at Carraroe when he detected a car travelling at 150 kilometers in a 100 kilometer zone, while driving very close to the car in front of it.

Garda Hannigan noticed the brake lights coming on and there were thunder storms and water pooling on the road at the time.

Garda Hannigan followed the vehicle to Collooney and it had remained in the fast lane and then cut across into the slow lane. It took the first exit without yielding and 'shot' into a filling station, where there were a number of people around.

Mr. Henry said his instructions were that O'Halloran was very unfamiliar with the area of Sligo. She happened to be here for the August Bank Holiday but had got separated from other members of her party and had become extremely anxious.

She was twenty four years of age with two young children and had been trying to 'catch up' on her friends.

"Her speed was indicative of dangerous driving and she is remorseful for that. The only thing is that it was on a good stretch of road and that factor may have influenced her driving," added Mr. Henry.

Ms. O'Halloran had a three years old boy and a two month old girl. One of the children required treatment in Crumlin Hospital and the defendant was the only person who had access to a vehicle, he said.

Judge Kilraine stated that he must disqualify O'Halloran.

He fined her €300 and disqualified her from driving for a year in respect of the incident at Carraroe and fined her a further €300 and disqualified her for two years and a day in respect of the incident at Collooney.

Recognisances were fixed in the sum of €500 in the event of an appeal.