Motorist given a suspended sentence at Tipperary court for driving with no insurance

A man has been given a four-month suspended prison sentence for driving with no insurance at Thurles District Court.

Brian Farrell, 41 of Togher Way, Urlingford, Kilkenny, plead guilty to driving with no licence and insurance on January 14, 2023.

The arresting guard told the court that on that date he stopped the defendant at Urard, Gortnahoe, Thurles.

The guard discovered that he was disqualified from driving and arrested him.

The driver had eight previous convictions under the Road Traffic Act, three for no insurance.

The barrister for the accused said in mitigation that his client had six children, his partner has Multiple Sclerosis and he has a child with a disability.

He said his client had been driving to collect one of his children who he has with a former partner.

His client had completed driving awareness programmes and was making an effort to find work locally.

GARDA ATTENTION

He also told the court that his client had been disqualified for a period of 15 years a few days previously.

But has not come to the attention of gardaí since this offence and requested the judge not impose a custodial sentence.

Judge Elizabeth MacGrath said she noted the defendant’s circumstances.

She imposed a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Judge MacGrath took the charge of driving without a licence into consideration.

She did not disqualify Mr Farrell from driving as she said it was “somewhat academic”.