A man who was arrested for driving while disqualified and had his car seized by a Garda was again caught hours later by the same Garda driving a different vehicle and she had to repeat the whole process.
This was the scenario outlined to Judge James Faughnan at Ballinasloe District Court on Thursday, May 7 when Oliver Farrell, Annamore, Mountbellew was brought before him on the morning of his second arrest.
Garda Michelle Hallinan told the Court that on the previous evening, May 6, she witnessed the defendant driving in the Ballinasloe area. She was aware that he was disqualified and stopped and arrested him for this offence. Farrell was given station bail and released but the following morning Garda Hallinan again came across him driving a different vehicle and went through the entire process again.
The reason he was off the road in the first place was because he was convicted of driving without insurance. The Court was told Farrell is a farmer and electrician.
Garda Hallinan said that she had a similar experience with Farrell in the past and he had to be taken into custody.
Garda Sgt Christy Brown said that Farrell’s car had been seized the night before and Gearóid Geraghty solr (defending ) responded “and another seized this morning”.
Judge Faughnan said he was very concerned about public safety and remanded the defendant in custody to appear again at Tuesday’s (May 12 ) sitting of Tuam District Court where he would consider bail under strict conditions.
“You’re a farmer. If you hit someone they’ll come after you,” the Judge warned him.
When Farrell was brought before Tuam Court on Tuesday where he was granted bail of €500. He told Judge Faughnan that he hand the cash but had left it behind in Castlerea prison. The Judge him that was fine as the Prison Service who brought him from there to Court that morning would provide him with a lift back to collect it.
