Abbeyfeale man put off road for four years

AN ABBEYFEALE man has been threatened with a week behind bars if he ever drives without insurance or while disqualified again.

Martin Kelliher of 44 Collins Park, Abbeyfeale, appeared in court in Listowel on Thursday charged with driving without insurance at Ballinagar, Lixnaw on March 21, 2015.

The court heard that Mr Kelliher had taken over driving from his girlfriend, who suffers from a long term medical condition and who was ‘crippled’ with a pain in her back at the time.

Solicitor Pat Enright said that his client knows he should have declined, but felt he had to.

Sergeant Kieran O’Connell said that Mr Kelliher has three previous convictions for no insurance, the latest recorded in May when he was banned from driving for four years.

The court also heard that on the day gardaí stopped Mr Kelliher, they got a strong smell of cannabis from the car and a subsequent search uncovered €40 worth of the drug. He admitted it was for his own use.

His solicitor said that since this incident, Mr Kelliher has settled down with a new partner who, he said, has had somewhat of a calming effect on him. He is working one day a week in a nearby mart and is a very hard worker when the work comes his way,

Judge Angela Ní Chondúin imposed a €200 fine for the drugs offence and also convicted him of driving with no insurance, fining him €400 and disqualifying him for four years.

Mr Kelliher was also ordered to give a sworn undertaking to the court that he would never again drive while uninsured or while disqualified. A breach, the judge said, would constitute contempt of court, and will result in a week behind bars. She also said she would be doubling the previous orders.