Driver banned for third no-insurance conviction

A CLAREMORRIS man received a five-month suspended prison sentence and a ten-year driving ban after he was convicted for the third time for having no insurance.
Judge James Faughnan told Michael O’Sullivan (29) of 1 Chapel Lane, Claremorris, that he should be going to prison for the offence, but he agreed to suspend the sentence after hearing he suffered from mental and physical illnesses.
Garda John O’Brien told the court that on October 29, 2014, he stopped Mr O’Sullivan at Lakelands, Manulla for driving without and licence or insurance. He explained the defendant had eight driving convictions all relating to road traffic offences, including two for no insurance.
The facts of the case had been previously heard before Judge William Hamill in September, who asked for a probation report to be prepared to see if he was suitable for community service. However, Ms Cathy McDarby, solicitor for the defendant said the ordeal was very stressful for her client, who had asked for the facts to be heard again and the matter to be dealt with.
Ms McCarby said that her client suffers from mental and health issues and that since the incident came before court, he has had to increase his medication. She said he lives at home and his mother is his carer. She accepted he should not have been driving and claimed he had no money to pay for insurance after having to get his car fixed. He has no intention of driving again, she said.
Ms Miriam Tallon, the Probation Officer said she had met Mr O’Sullivan several times and concurred what Ms McDarby had to say.
For the third offence of driving without insurance, Judge Faughnan said he should be going to prison but instead imposed a five-month suspended sentence. Mr O’Sullivan was disqualified from driving for ten years and fined a total of €800.