Arrest ordered of Laois man after ninth no insurance conviction

The arrest has been ordered for a Portlaoise man who received his ninth conviction for driving without insurance so that he can be sentenced by a judge who convicted him of driving under a 12-year ban.

Ray Malone, 41, 20 Harpurs Crescent, Portlaoise was before Portlaoise District Court charged with driving without insurance or a driving licence on April 18 this year at Coote St in Portlaoise.

Detective Garda O’Connor told the court Malone was driving a Ford Mondeo. She said she was aware that he was not permitted to drive.

She told Andrew Cody the driver was arrested and the car seized. He was later charged at Portlaoise Garda Station.

Malone later failed to produce his licence or insurance to Gardaí.

Det O’Connor said the accused was banned in 2020 for six years for no insurance. On a date previously he received a 12-year ban after being stopped with no cover in August 2020.

He has 29 previous convictions of which eight are for no insurance and eight are for no driving licence.

Judge Cody convicted Mr Malofne in his absence and issued a bench warrant for his arrest so that he could be sentenced.