Politics and the law coalesced in more than one respect in ‘Mr Redmond’s Furious Drive,’ a mildly scandalous story featuring the leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party and his double-jobbing barrister chauffeur, which featured in a number of Irish newspapers in September 1910. This account below is from the Irish News and Belfast Morning News of the 8th of that month:
“Yesterday in the Southern Police Court, before Mr Drury, Mr James Condon, BL, of 19 Haddington Road, was charged by Sergeant Kelly, E16, with having, on the 18th of July, driven a motor car RI955, at a speed exceeding the twenty miles speed limit along the Stillorgan Road.
Mr Tobias prosecuted, and Mr Edward Byrne (Gerald Byrne & Co.) defended.
Mr Tobias said that the defendant was jeopardising the destinies of the Irish nation at the time, for Mr John Redmond M.P., Mr Joseph Devlin M.P.; and Mr. Denis Johnston, secretary of the United Irish League, were in the car. The case was adjourned three weeks ago, and the defendant did not appear in court that day.
Mr Byrne said the defendant was at present engaged in the country driving the Earl of Erne. He would agree on behalf of his client to submit to a 10s fine so as to prevent further complication.
Mr Drury said he would not agree as to that. The adjournment was given three weeks ago at the instance of the defendant’s solicitor.
Mr Byrne said that at the time there were two other cars proceeding along the Stillorgan Road. Both these cars were in front of the defendant’s car, and going at the same rate of speed, if not higher, but the defendant was not going at an undue rate.
Mr Drury said that if Mr Tobias agreed he would adjourn the case for a fortnight, which would give the defendant time to appear in court.
This course was agreed to.”
The case was subsequently heard in September before Mr Swifte, who fined Mr Condon 20s – a sum equivalent, in shillings, to the per hour speed limit he had exceeded. In an era when motor cars were still rare, Mr Condon BL seems to have been much demand as a chauffeur for important persons in Irish life!
Images of Mr Redmond and the Stillorgan Road, from the 1900s, via Wikipedia.
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