Six year ban for disqualified Longford motorist

A man caught driving while disqualified was fined €500 and received a further six year ban at Longford District Court. Raymond Casserly (62) Ballyknock, Kenagh, Longford was before Judge Bernadette Owens facing two motoring offences.

The defendant was charged with driving without insurance or a drivers licence. Inspector Frank Finn told the judge that at 1:30 pm on November 19, 2022 at The Island, Kenagh Gardaí stopped a vehicle driven by Mr Casserly.

Garda Stuart had noted the vehicle parked in Kenagh earlier in the day, observing there was no valid tax disk or NCT cert displayed. Mr Casserly told the officer his drivers license was at home, however when Garda Stuart checked the records and it transpired the driver was disqualified.

The court was told Mr Casserly was previously convicted for drink driving and dangerous driving. He received a three year ban for those offences. Solicitor Frank Gearty stated his client was entering a plea of guilty to the charges before the court.

Mr Gearty outlined that Mr Casserly is a single man who has worked all his life, but recently became unwell. He said the defendant suffers health problems and gets support from his wider family.

Mr Gearty explained that although he was serving a ban his client purchased a car and used it to travel from his home to Kenagh to get lunch. The solicitor said Mr Casserly, who is now in receipt of a community welfare payment, has not reclaimed the seized vehicle.

“He is very sorry he did this. He knows it should not have happened,” Mr Gearty toldthe judge. Taking the facts of the case into consideration Judge Owens registered a conviction and imposed a fine of €500 giving the defendant six months to pay for the no insurance charge. A disqualification of six years was also imposed.

The driving without a drivers licence charge was taken into consideration.