Man caught with no insurance on way to Limerick court
A MAN WAS caught driving with no insurance while on his way to attend court in Newcastle West.
Antonio Da Silva, aged 23, of Coole Haven, Gort, Co Galway, who has six previous convictions for driving without insurance, pleaded guilty to two further counts of no insurance.
Inspector Gearoid Thompson, prosecuting, said the defendant has a “poor record”. “Indeed,” said solicitor Michael O’Donnell, who represented Mr Da Silva.
Newcastle West Court heard that Mr Da Silva was found to be driving without insurance on March 24, 2021 at Barnakyle, Patrickswell and on February 16, 2023 at Maiden Street, Newcastle West.
On the latter occasion, Mr O’Donnell said his client was driving to court at the time. “That was the purpose of his driving,” said the solicitor.
Mr O’Donnell said his client has six previous convictions for driving without insurance and faces “two more today”.
“He is 23-years-old, married with three young children. He works as a mechanic in a garage. His excuse is it was a necessity of sorts. His wife doesn’t drive. It is a bit late but he now had made provisions,” said Mr O’Donnell, who added Mr Da Silva has a relatively modest income of €400 per week and provides for his wife and three children.
Judge Carol Anne Coolican imposed a two month prison sentence for the no insurance offence in 2021 and fined him €250 for driving without a driving licence.
For the 2023 driving offences, the judge handed down a three month jail sentence with the last month suspended for two years for no insurance.
Judge Coolican put Mr Da Silva off the road for four years for no driving licence.
Recognisance was fixed.