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Businessman Ben Dunne has died at the age of 74. He was one of Ireland’s best known businesspeople.
He is survived by his wife, Mary, and by his four children.
He is understood to have died in Dubai.
He was a former director of the family business, Dunnes Stores, one of Ireland’s largest retail groups.
Later he was a leading figure in the Irish fitness industry, including founding an eponymous chain of gyms.
Born in Cork on 11 March 1949, he was the youngest of six children. His father, Ben Dunne Snr, founded Dunnes Stores in 1944.
In 1981, Ben Jnr was kidnapped and held for ransom by the IRA. He was released after a week.
In 1992, he was arrested in Florida for possession of cocaine, which ultimately resulted in him losing his position at the head of Dunnes Stores and set in train events that would rock Irish politics.
An internal investigation at the company revealed payments he had made to politicians, including former taoiseach Charlie Haughey. The revelations ultimately led to the McCracken and Moriarty tribunals.
With reporting by Jane Matthews.
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As a new driver I always try and do the speed limits and u get some lad driving up ur arse putting pressure on u to speed up. The Irish really have no patience. Breaking the limit is the norm for most
I assume you’re not in the overtaking lane doing the speed limit in these instances?
I deliberately slow down when the ass bandits turn up. Generally they back the hell off.
Or just tap on the brakes for a second..that usually wakes the bufoon behind you, up. They dont really want to rear end you but think they might if you keep braking. They’ll pull back then
Dé Bhailis Ade just stick to the speed limit and ignore them. You are doing nothing wrong. My driving instructor used to always say “don’t worry about what’s behind you, focus on the road in front of you” (because I was constantly checking the rear-view mirror when learning to drive). If they rear-end you in a collision, the insurance companies usually place 100% of the blame on them. Mounting a dashcam pointed out the back window is good for peace of mind.
You dangerous fool.
Your a Danger to All,you should be Banned.
Daisy, Spot on, that is the proper procedure to warn off those who are committing the offence of tailgating, which is the no 1 cause of road crashes. I got that advice many years ago from highly qualified police officers in UK.
Ignorance and stupidity is the very definition of Irish driving
Driving to the speed limits is drawing the wrath of Beamer knobs and people carrier drivers who will literally puck you off the road with panic to get somewhere 10 seconds quicker.
In the words of the late Seamus Brennan
You can’t expect people to respect the speed limit if they are unrealistic.
Something needs to be done in the cities 30mph in London is about right.
60km on the stretch of the Naas Road in the photo above is ridiculous and is purely revenue raising.
I’ve never seen a speedtrap on it during the week because it is too busy and traffic travels at 6kph not 60.
However weekends are different so ka-ching.
Jealous of BMW drivers mc ?
He must be, ive a 520d and never speed and have to points or convictions.
‘Have no* points or convictions’
You don’t have to be breaking the speed limit to be speeding. Driving too fast for road conditions is also speeding. Any driver who says they have never done either of these is a liar.
Looks like there are a lot of people envious of BMW drivers, the sados
Take their cars and crush them in front of them.
**Disclaimer**
Daisy has been paid a fee by the Irish Automotive Industry for her contribution.
I feckin’ wish!!
Just a question
I was told once that if your caught doing double the posted speed limit, ie, over 100 in a 50kph area that you didn’t get points but it was an automatic court summons and loss of licence.
Is this true?
No its not true. There is nothing mandatory. It’s the gardais discretion. You can be summoned directly if they want to.
Fair enough
P.J. from what I understand speeding offences up to an including driving without due care and attention are dealt with in the first instance by FCPN’s – if it’s not paid it will eventually go to Court. However, if the manner of driving while doing twice the speed limit is considered careless or dangerous then you can be charged/summonsed. There is no FCPN’s for those offences.
We don’t have Officers, we have Gardaí, or Guards even. We’re not Brits. Get it right Journal.
Clown
Not bright enough…
Don’t be insulting clowns.
Only Guards?
What about:…the pigs…..the fuzz….the cops….the coppers….the boys in blue…the bobbies …the Peelers.
(To name a few).
If you’re going to speed then take off the license plates and keep going if you see a Garda van.
Ohhh, that’s very cheeky!
People will never get it. Simply don’t speed. Problem sorted
And if you kill someone you can chuckle to yourself that you weren’t caught. Maybe speed past their funeral without your plates. Idiot.
Well if he could get 1.21 gigawatts he would never be late again
He’d still need to get to 88 miles per hour
True but he wouldn’t need roads
Needs more jigga-watts
Not sure how the Gardai have time to service a Twitter account while there’s a major gangland feud ongoing in Dublin city amongst the usual ongoings. In saying that, I am totally against speeding as it puts lives at risk.
Cause all 11500 are involved in the investigation? Not really.
I suppose one person updating twitter Is a major draw on Garda Resources.
Whataboutery
Some amount of immature children here. The speed limits are set deal with it. It might be unfair but sure such is life get over it.
Morons. Should be put off the road for 6 months when caught like that.
While we’re on the subject of poor driving. Get out of the middle lane on the motorway unless you’re actually overtaking!! Keep left as per the rules of the road. Or else get in the f@#king sea!
And licence!
Blanchardstown speed checkpoint on Naas rd???
Start by reducing/clamping the speed in which a vehicle can do in the manufracturing department. A vehicle should not be able to exceed the speed of 100kph – 120kph. Its like giving a child a ninety-nine and telling them they are not allowed to have the flake, when the power of the vehicle can do up to 200kph
Start by having proper limits for the road. 50km/h on a wide dual carriageway and 80km/h on back roads with grass growing down the middle is madness.
Police the idiots that think it’s ok to drive 40km/h in a 100km/h zone with 20 cars behind them without pulling in at letting them pass. This only forces other idiots to get impatient and take risks.
Desmond.. will you grow up and behave like you live in a 1st world country in 2016… less of that shitte.. do your self a favour and stop that nonsense now. Thanks
People giving out about 80km zones thinking they should be 100km, 50km when ye think it should be 80km.
What’s the rush with people?
Slow and steady wins the race.
I do not understand any person that speeds, in fact, they are simply idiots.
Once out of the cities there should be stretches of motorway without speed limits as on the German Autobahns. Obviously drivers would adjust their speed to allow for weather conditions and traffic volume. This would enable Gardaí to monitor more closely the roads that pose a real danger. It would be interesting to compare the number of fatal accidents on Irish motorways with the number killed on other roads. The ratio should be interesting. For instance the M7 (two lane) inward to Naas is 120 kph and the three lane motorway to Newlands is 100 kph. Doesn’t make sense!!!
In Germany are they thought motorway driving during their instruction? Do they follow the rules of the road when driving on motorways there? Because there’s no mandatory instruction on motorway driving in Ireland, and you only have to spend a short amount of time on a motorway here to see that there are stretches of motorway where people just stay in the middle or right-hand lanes without budging. These are not people I would with trust with being allowed to drive any speed they want. Let’s instruct our drivers better and learn to follow the existing rules before calling for German style autobahns.
“Obviously drivers would adjust their speed to allow for weather conditions and traffic volume.” In Ireland? you obviously don’t drive!
At the risk of 100 red thumbs , they say speed cameras don’t work over 120mph as the number plate picture becomes blurred. Is it true?
Do you people realise you’re replying to an automated bot who will never read your replies unless it becomes sentient, at which point you-ll be far too busy dealing with the imminent robot apocalypse for any of rhis to matter?
Did she mean she’s pregnant?
I’m late! I’m late! He should have said ‘Don’t panic, there’s still 9 months to go….’
I’m just wondering where the 3 thumbs up come from?
Doing 121 kph in 50 kph zone represents dangerous and reckless driving.
That is a serious criminal offense which can land you in prison.
(It’s not a minor offense like doing 53 kph in a 50 kph zone,for which you get a 90 euro speeding ticket and 3 points on your license.)
have your say