Driving ban for two years

A MOTORIST who was caught driving without insurance for a second time has been convicted, fined €200 and banned from driving for two years.

Christopher Stokes (24) failed to appear before Drogheda District Court last Friday, January 26th.

However, Judge John Coughlan proceeded with the case on a not guilty plea in his absence as it was the tenth time the case was before the court.

Defence barrister Ronan O’Carroll said the defendant is not in court and he has no instructions as to how to proceed with the case.

The court heard Garda Michael Giblin came across a car which was parked on a footpath outside the post office on West Street, Drogheda on April 25th, 2017.

Gda Giblin said the car was blocking the footpath and part of the road.

He said the defendant got into the car and attempted to pull out. Gda Giblin stopped the defendant, who produced a driving licence. However, he had no insurance and failed to produce his insurance within ten days at Kells Garda Station.

A fixed penalty notice was issued for parking on the footpath but the defendant failed to pay it, the court heard.

The defendant, of Cloran Court, Athboy in Co Meath has one previous no insurance conviction dating back to September 2015 where he received a €300 fine.

Finding the defendant guilty in his absence, Judge Coughlan imposed the fine, conviction and disqualification for the no insurance offence.

He fixed recognisance in the event of an appeal.