Widower in Offaly with two children sent to prison for driving with no insurance

A defendant with a Tullamore address was sentenced to six months imprisonment for not having insurance during last week's sitting of Tullamore District Court.

Osvaldas Giedraitis, 12 Eiscir Summer Road, Tullamore was stopped at a Garda checkpoint in Granary Court, Edenderry on October 28 last.

Sergeant Brendan Kearns told the court that Giedraitis had 15 previous convictions including no driving licence, theft, and no insurance. He had previously been disqualified for a number of years for having no insurance.

The defending solicitor Patrick Martin said his client is 35 years of age and is a Lithuanian national.

“His wife passed away and he is the carer of his two young children.”

Judge Andrew Cody pointed out that Mr Giedraitis has a poor record and was clearly not getting the message.

"It leaves me with no option but a prison sentence. I am concerned about the two children. Has care been arranged for them if their father is imprisoned?” asked the judge.

Mr Martin said it had.

The Judge convicted for no insurance and sentenced the man to six months, suspending the final two months.

He disqualified from holding a driving licence for two years. A charge for no driving licence was taken into consideration.