A 20-year old father of two picked up yet another driving disqualification for driving without insurance when he came before Judge James Faughnan at Tuam District Court this week.
The judge said he could put the defendant off the road for four, five or six years because of his record in this regard but he would leave it at a three-year ban to give him some light at the end of the tunnel.
James Sweeney of 1 Moyne Park, Abbeyknockmoy was observed by Gardaí on patrol in Abbeyknockmoy on June 11, 2025 parked in an 09 MO reg car. They checked his details and ascertained he had no insurance for the vehicle.
Judge Faughnan was told that this was the defendant’s third conviction for driving without insurance and he had been put of the road for two years last year and had received a father ban of one year at Ballinasloe District Court for the same offence.
Sean Acton solr (defending ) pleaded that his client was not actually banned when Gardaí found him in Abbeyknockmoy. He assured the court that his client was not currently driving.
A third conviction for driving without insurance can lead to six months in prison, fines of up €5,000, five penalty points and a lengthy driving ban.
Judge Faughnan imposed a five-month prison sentence, suspended for two years on condition he be of good behaviour during that period and not re-offend. In addition he imposed a three-year driving disqualification saying he wouldn’t make it longer to give the defendant “light at the end of the tunnel”.
