Leitrim man banned for six years after third no-insurance conviction

A Carrick-on-Shannon man has been banned from driving for six years after being convicted for driving without insurance for the third time. At Carrick-on-Shannon District Court on September 23, Judge Éiteáin Cunningham convicted Alan O’Reilly (47), 38 Ath Na Ri, Aughameeney, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, of driving without insurance, contrary to Section 56 of the Road Traffic Act.

The court heard O’Reilly, who is on welfare and supports his wife and children, had been stopped by Gardaí while collecting his daughter. His solicitor, Mr Martin Burke, confirmed the circumstances and said his client fully accepted responsibility. Judge Cunningham noted it was the third time O’Reilly had come before the court for the same offence and said she was marking that on the record. She convicted and directed 80 hours of community service in lieu of two months in prison, and disqualified him from driving for six years.

Further offences for driving without a licence and failing to produce documents were taken into consideration. Judge Cunningham also dealt with several fixed charge penalty notices relating to defective vehicle components, no L-plates and driving unaccompanied. 

Judge Cunningham also dealt with three unpaid fixed charge penalty notices relating to minor road traffic offences — a defective rear-view mirror, failure to display L-plates, and driving unaccompanied as a learner driver. “There’s three — €120 for the first, €240 for the second, and €320 on the third,” she said. “All I can do is convict and fine on each — that’s the sum that would have been payable had he paid it.”

She allowed six months to pay, noting his financial circumstances, and added: “That’s as much as I can do. The 80 hours community service order is in lieu of two months. Everything else is taken into consideration apart from the fixed penalty notices.”

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