A motorist, who was clocked travelling at speeds of up to 234kmh, has topped the Garda "worst offender" list.

The incident took place near Loughrea in county Galway where the motorist was caught speeding at almost twice the legal limit of 120k.

He was closely followed in the list by a motorist doing 201kph on the Naas dual carriageway, which has a limit of 100kph, at Kill, Co Kildare.

In third place was an offender travelling at 194k in an 120k zone at Dunleer, Co Louth.

The list of the worst offenders in 28 garda divisions was published yesterday as officers appealed to motorists to slow down and take care over the October bank holiday weekend.

Gardai said 23 of the 28 listed had paid 80 euro fixed fines while the other five were contesting their cases in the courts.

Also in the top 10 were motorists in Meath 190k (100k limit), Clare 184 (120), Kilkenny/Carlow 181 (120), Kerry 179 (100), Waterford 167 (100), Wexford 165 (100), and joint 10th Dublin North and Sligo/Leitrim 163 (100).

Chief Supt Michael O'Sullivan, head of the national traffic bureau, said: "We will intensively target those who believe they can act irresponsibly."

Irish Independent