Longford man with dreadful driving record hit with suspended sentence and ten year ban

A man who was disqualified from driving was acting as a “good Samaritan” and test-driving a car for his son, the recent sitting of Longford District Court heard.

Before the court was Jason Ryan (51), 19 Corry Park, Edgeworthstown who was charged with no insurance and driving without a driving licence at Aughadegnan, Longford on November 13 last.

Garda Sergeant Enda Daly, for the State, outlined that gardaí observed the defendant driving a car at Aghadegnan. “It was known to gardaí that he was disqualified,” he said.

The court heard the defendant had 20 previous convictions, including 6 for no insurance. He had received a driving disqualification of 12 years. The latest offences fell just outside a 5 months prison sentence which was previously imposed on the defendant.

“He has a dreadful record,” defence solicitor John Quinn said.

In mitigation, he said the defendant had not been out on a public road, but had been driving the car at McDonald’s Car Park.

A son of the defendant had taken the car out for a test drive and he was “testing” it for him. The son didn’t buy the car in the end.

“He didn’t drive out onto the thoroughfare. He stayed in the car park,” Mr Quinn said.

The defendant was willing to make a contribution of €500 to the court poor box.

“That’s not going to go anywhere,” Judge Bernadette Owens commented.

Mr Quinn said his client had been asked by his son to test out the car.

“He should have said to him, I can’t,” Judge Owens said.

A prison sentence of five months was imposed on the defendant, suspended for two years.

A driving disqualification of 10 years was also imposed.