A FIANNA FÁIL TD who was caught driving at over 190km/h on a motorway in Cork last March has apologised and announced he is leaving the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice.

Michael Cahill TD of Rossbeigh, Glenbeigh, Co Kerry, was convicted in Fermoy District Court today for dangerous driving after speeding on the M8 between Mitchelstown and Fermoy.

“There is no excuse for my actions”, he said in a statement tonight, adding that he has no plans to appeal the conviction.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin described the behaviour of his party member as “completely and utterly unacceptable”. He said the matter will be considered by the party’s Rules and Procedures Committee in due course.

Garda Peter O’Loughlin told the court that the dangerous driving occurred at around 12.20pm on 13 March 2025 when an Audi Q5 passed out the flow of traffic before coming close behind a van which had to abort its plan to overtake an articulated lorry.

O’Loughlin said he drove after the car at high speed to catch up. He drove with flashing lights on an unmarked garda car, signalling for the driver to pull over for about 4km or 5km before the driver noticed.

Judge Colm Roberts convicted Cahill of dangerous driving, imposed a €500 fine and disqualified him from driving for two years.

Cahill – who became a TD last year after 34 years as a councillor – said he was travelling from Leinster House to a meeting at St Mary of the Angels in St Francis’ Special School in Beaufort, County Kerry.

“I wish to offer my sincere and unreserved apology for driving at an unacceptable speed on the M8 between Mitchelstown and Fermoy last year,” the Kerry TD said.

“I am very sorry. There is no excuse for my actions. I am acutely aware of the number of serious and fatal accidents on our roads, the devastating impact these tragedies have on families and the fact that excessive speed is a major contributory factor.

“I will not appeal the conviction and furthermore I have informed the Taoiseach of my intention to step back as a member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.”

In a statement released tonight the Taoiseach said that Cahill “has rightly received his punishment in the courts, a decision he fully accepts”.

“As legislators, Dáil deputies have a particular responsibility to set the right example, and Deputy Cahill has accepted that this incident let down both his family and the wider community,” he added.