Paul Hourigan: Castle Hill man pleads guilty to reckless, drink driving near Pennant Hills

Cops were forced to reach speeds of 185km to catch a 52-year old man driving down the M2 in Sydney’s northwest.

A Castle Hill man has faced Parramatta Local Court after getting drunk and speeding down the M2 motorway.

Paul Hourigan, 52, overtook and sped past an unmarked police car in his black Mercedes C63 on March 22 about 11.30pm, heading towards the M2 tunnel near Pennant Hills.

Police facts tendered to court said Hourigan was driving 150km/h in the 100km zone, with police officers needing to reach speeds of 185km/h to catch up to him.

Hourigan was seen by police weaving through other cars on the motorway and switching lanes without indicating.

He eventually veered on to an off ramp, where he was stopped, giving no reason for driving at high speeds.

Paul Sheldon Hourigan outside Parramatta Local Court. Picture: Paul Brescia

After undertaking a roadside breath test — which was positive — he was taken to Castle Hill police station for another test, which gave a reading of 0.093.

He was charged with mid-range PCA, and driving recklessly, furiously, or at a speed of manner dangerous, and pleaded guilty to the charges in Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday.

Hourigan’s lawyer told the court the 150km/h speed was not too serious, given that it was late at night on a motorway.

“It’s a matter that falls comparatively well into the low range of objective seriousness,” his lawyer said.

Magistrate Margaret Quinn scolded Hourigan for making the decision to drink and drive.

“Every person who comes to court says ‘I felt all right to drive,” Ms Quinn said.

“Drink drivers get other people killed, make people paraplegic, run people over.”

Ms Quinn told the court she took into account Hourigan’s community work, including with local sports teams, and expressions of remorse when deciding her sentence.

“I consider that you have no record, and are very unlikely to reoffend,” Ms Quinn said.

Hourigan was convicted of his drink driving charge, and had no conviction recorded for his guilty plea to reckless driving.

He was placed on a conditional release order for 12 months. His licence was revoked for three months and his car was put on a mandatory interlock for three months.