Man in custody convicted for driving with no insurance in Newbridge, County Kildare

A man serving a custodial sentence was convicted for driving with no insurance in Newbridge.

Paulius Paplauskas, with an address listed as Dunloe House, Hawfield in Newbridge, but who is currently serving a custodial sentence for other matters, was convicted of the offence by Judge Desmond Zaidan at Naas District Court on Thursday, September 28 last.

The court was told by gardaí that on July 20, 2020, the 33-year-old was stopped by gardaí at Beechmount in Moorefield, Newbridge.

When he was asked to produce proof of insurance for his vehicle, Mr Paplauskas was unable to do so.

It was heard that he is due for release in November of 2024.

Gardaí told Judge Zaidan that Mr Paplauskas has 34 previous convictions, 11 of which are for road traffic offences, and two of which are for driving with no valid insurance.

He previously was disqualified from driving for four years in 2012, and was not disqualified at the time of the 2020 offence.

Defending solicitor David Powderly said that his client had previously struggled with an addiction to drugs, but was sober now.

Judge Zaidan decided to impose a four-year driving disqualification on Mr Paplauskas, as well as a five-month custodial sentence, which will run into his current sentence.