Suspended prison sentence handed down at Kilkenny court

A man who admitted driving with no insurance was handed down a four month suspended sentence at a recent sitting of Kilkenny District Court.

Antanas Jakonis, 3 Chamberlands Close, New Ross, Co Wexford pleaded guilty to the offence at the M9, Knocktopher on May 12.

Garda Damien Rafter told the court that on the date in question he was conducting a speed checkpoint at Knocktopher when he detected a vehicle travelling at 143 kilometres per hour in a 120 zone. The garda stopped the vehicle and discovered that the driver was disqualified from driving at the time and that the vehicle was registered to his wife, Sonata.

Gda Rafter told the court that two days later he spoke to Sonata regarding her husband driving a vehicle which was registered to her. She told the garda that she knew that her husbandwas disqualified from driving and said that on the day in question she was tired and had lost her contact lens and that she had given him permission to drive.

The defendant has 11 previous convictions including three for no insurance and one for driving while under the influence of alcohol.

The defendant’s barrister told the court that his client has limited english and that on the date in question the defendant’s wife was driving when a tyre blew.

“She panicked and lost her contact lens. She was fraught. They were on their way to collect their daughter from school and were delayed because of the tyre.”

The court also heard that the defendant has ‘a multitude of health issues’ and is a man ‘in poor health’.

Judge Geraldine Carthy convicted the defendant and imposed a four month prison sentence suspended for 24 months on condition that the defendant does not drive. She also imposed a six year disqualification order and imposed a fine of €400 for driving without a valid licence.

The defendant’s wife Sonata Jakoniene with an address at 3 Chamberland Close, New Ross, Co Wexford who also before the court charged with being the owner of a vehicle and allowing someone to drive without insurance.

The court heard that on the date in question the defendant was late collecting her daughter for her birthday party and had a tyre blow out and lost a contact lens.

“Her eyesight is bad, she thought it would be more dangerous for her to drive the car than her husband,” her barrister said adding that his client has no previous convictions.

“In 23 years of driving she has no blemishes on her licence. It was only for the emergency type circumstances that she allowed her husband to drive,” added the barrister.

Judge Carthy convicted the defendant and imposed a fine of €400.