Suspended sentence for Spanish student caught driving at high speed in Tipperary

A Spanish student travelling in Ireland has been given a suspended prison sentence and driving ban at Nenagh District Court.

Santiago Lombardi Suarez (27) pleaded guilty to dangerous driving after gardaí stopped him on the M7 Clashnevin, Nenagh, on September 21, 2024,  for driving at 182 km/hr. 

The court heard when gardaí stopped the Ford Fiesta, five people were travelling in it. 

Acting for the defendant, solicitor Elizabeth McKeever told the court her client was only here temporarily and was not aware of the speed limit. 

She said he had limited English and was in the country to learn the language. 

Ms McKeever said while this was “no defence for such speed,” her client had pleaded guilty. 

Judge Fiona Brennan said she did not accept that the defendant did not know the speed limit on the road and that the court considered this a “very serious matter.”

The judge said the weight of the car, the number of people travelling and his unfamiliarity with the road “should have caused him to slow down.”

Judge Brennan convicted the defendant and imposed a two-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, disqualifying him from driving for two years and fined him €400.