Ten-year driving ban handed down to repeat offender at Kilkenny Court

A five-month prison sentence was handed down to a repeat offender at Kilkenny District Court for having no insurance.

John O’Reilly, 1 Williamstown Way, Airport Road, Kilkenny was convicted of having no insurance and no driving licence at Pennefeather Way, Kilkenny on August 8, 2023.

The court heard that on the date in question gardaí observed the defendant driving and stopped him as they were aware that he was disqualified from driving at the time.

The defendant has 43 previous convictions, including 12 previous convictions for no insurance and is currently serving a prison sentence.

Barrister Eamonn O’Moore said that his client is a 24-year-old married father-of-one who finished attendance at a special needs school and is involved in the care of a number of members of his family.

In relation to the no insurance offence Judge Geraldine Carthy remarked that ‘the history of road traffic offending is quite stark’.

“An aggravating factor in this case is the number of previous convictions and that Mr O’ Reilly has a significant number of previous convictions for no insurance,” she said.

Judge Carthy convicted the defendant of no insurance and imposed a five-month prison sentence and also disqualified him from driving for ten years.

Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal in respect of the road traffic matters.