'Send a prayer to Saint Anthony' - Limerick motorist warned over 'misplaced' licence

AN UNINSURED motorist was advised to send a prayer to Saint Anthony after he told a judge he had misplaced his driving licence and could not produce it in court.

Shane Dillon, aged 31, who has an address at Hillview Drive in Charleville, Cork was before Kilmallock Court, arising from motoring offences which were detected in County Limerick earlier this year.

Judge Patricia Harney was told the defendant was stopped by Garda Michael O'Leary on April 12, last and that he was not insured to drive the vehicle in question. He also failed to produce his licence to gardai when stopped.

Solicitor Michael O'Donnell said his client's partner owns the vehicle and that any disqualification would have "a very serious effect" on him. Mr Dillon, the court heard, has two previous convictions for relatively minor offences, dating back a number of years.

Mr O'Donnell said the 31-year-old was accompanied by two passengers on the day - both of whom suffer from medical issues.

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Having considered the matter and noting the submissions, Judge Harney said: "I won't disqualify him but if it happens again then I'll have no discretion in doing so". 

The defendant was convicted and fined €500 for the insurance offence. 

When asked to produce his licence to the court registrar, Mr Dillon failed to do so stating he did not have it with him and that he had "misplaced" it. Judge Harney then warned him that he will need to prove he has it sooner rather than later. "It might be worth sending a prayer to St Anthony," she commented.

The driving licence matter was adjourned to next month to allow Mr Dillon to produce the licence to Garda O'Leary as soon as possible.