Banned motorist caught driving in Laois three times in a month

A man was caught driving in Portlaoise without insurance or a licence three times in the space of a month. 

Salman Dylan Mughal (21) of 386 Market Mews, Maryborough Village, Portlaoise admitted driving without insurance or a licence at Clonroosk Little, Mountrath Road on May 8, on the Mountrath Road at Knockmay on May 16 and again at Market Mews, Maryborough Village on June 8, 2024. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant was stopped in the same vehicle and on the last occasion “was the third time in a month” he was driving while disqualified. He said the man had three previous convictions and had been disqualified due to an accumulation of penalty points in April for a period of  six months. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client hadn’t realised he had been disqualified on the first occasion he was stopped. She said the man is an Irish national of Czech descent who lives with his mother. She said the car is now disposed of.

Ms Fitzpatrick said the man told her his sister suffers with seizures and he had been travelling on one of the occasions to get medication. 

She asked the judge to take his early plea into account and also the fact that there was no drugs or alcohol involved in the offending. She said the man was on jobseekers allowance. 

Judge Andrew Cody imposed a 12 months sentence which he suspended for three years. He fined the man a total of €1,200 and disqualified him from driving for six years.