Men stopped in Leitrim were 138km from their house during Covid travel restrictions

Two men who were stopped by Gardai near Carrick-on-Shannon were found to be 138 km from their house in Dundalk, Co Louth while national Covid travel restrictions were in place.

Appearing before the court were Andrei Rostas and Elvetjan Anghel, both of 39 Castletown Road, Dundalk, Co Louth.

Mr Rostas pleaded guilty to having no insurance, failing to produce insurance, and speeding on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 when he was stopped by Garda Albert McHale at Aughamore, Carrick-on-Shannon.

He was detected driving at 76kph in a 50kph zone at the time. A fixed charge penalty notice for speeding was issued and not paid.

He had 23 previous convictions, mainly for road traffic offences, and had no insurance convictions from 2001, 2003 and 2005, He was jailed for the last of those offences. He also had quite a few convictions for speeding, Garda McHale told the court.

Judge Sandra Murphy convicted and fined Mr Rostas €250 for no insurance and disqualified him for four years. He was convicted and fined €200 for speeding, and convicted of failing to produce insurance which was taken into consideration.

Recognisances of €250 and €205 were fixed in the event of an appeal.

In relation to Mr Anghel, who was a passenger in the car, he told Garda McHale they had picked up his cousin in Longford and were going shopping in Carrick-on- Shannon.

Garda McHale said where they were stopped was 138km from their house. He had no previous convictions.

Judge Murphy convicted and fined him €100 for a breach of the temporary Covid regulations.