Fined €1,000 and avoids being sent to prison

A 49-year-old man who was described by Judge Kevin Kilrane as having a ‘shocking record’ including several previous convictions for no insurance was fined €1000 to avoid being sent to prison. Damien Sweeney (49) with an address at Kilglass, Enniscrone, was charged with not having insurance on October 1st 2017. Inspector Donal Sweeney told Judge Kevin Kilrane gardaí stopped him driving a tractor to an outfarm to feed his cattle. He had a number of previous convictions for not having insurance and another for endangerment in 2013 where he received an 8 months prison sentence and disqualified from driving for 20 years. He had also been disqualified for 25 years in 2007.

Defending solicitor Mr Peter Loftus told the judge his client had €1000 with him in court and understood he was facing a lengthy disqualification. He said his client was also prepared to give up keeping cattle on the outfarm. Judge Kilrane said he didn’t need a Probation Report and that Sweeney had a shocking record with several previous convictions for no insurance and also for endangerment. “I don’t know if he understands how serious this is,” he added. He fined him €1000 and disqualified him from driving for 20 years and imposed a 4 month suspended prison sentence. He warned Sweeney not to have any road traffic offences even as a passenger for 3 years.