Sentence on driving charges

A Dundalk man who admitted driving while disqualified has been given a suspended sentence and a further road ban after he admitted traffic offences last week.

Kyle Gartland, (23), 433 Ashling Park, pleaded guilty to charges arising out of an incident on May 13. Gardai stopped a silver BMW and spoke to the driver who initially said his name was ‘Conor Gartland’. When he was asked for his driving licence, he said he didn’t have it on him and when asked for ID, he said he had none.

Gardai arrested the driver on suspicion of giving false information and later determined it was Kyle Gartland. He has a number of previous convictions including a suspended sentence, handed down in 2015 for traffic offences.

A five year disqualification was imposed the previous year for dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

Solicitor Peter Lavery said his client was aware how serious this is for him as he already had been banned from driving. Mr Lavery said Gartland ‘is known to the court over the years’, but he has ‘vastly improved from the boy who was before the court constantly’.

The solicitor added: ‘ He has changed, he has a child and on his occasion he was driving a family member’s car. He doesn’t usually drive any more’.

Mr Lavery said Gartland is not able to do community service as he suffers from epilepsy. Judge Flann Brennan imposed a four month sentence, suspended for four months. He was also disqualified for four years.