Jail warning for taxi man over insurance

A mid-Louth man has been warned he will go to jail if he drives passengers without insurance before his case comes up again.

Brendan Conlon (59), Bellingham Green, Castlebellingham, has been given the option of doing 220 hours community service instead of five months in custody.

Previously, he admitted operating as a taxi driver without the requisite licence or insurance when the case was adjourned for a medical report to be obtained.

The defendant pleaded guilty to driving without insurance at Woodlands Estate, Dunleer, on 12 October, 2017 in a prosecution brought by gardaí and to two summonses brought by the National Transport Authority.

Evidence was given there was no insurance on a Toyota Yaris to carry passengers on that occasion. It was a private vehicle and not capable of being licenced as a taxi.

There are no previous convictions.

Last week, defence solicitor Paddy Goodwin said his client has serious health issues. He looks after his elderly mother.

A solicitor for the National Transport Authority added Brendan Conlon ‘is a person of ongoing interest to us’.

Judge Coughlan adjourned the case to 5 July for a report and indicated he is considering a sentence of 220 hours community service or five months imprisonment, as well as a ten-year disqualification, on the no insurance charge.

‘You drive passengers without insurance in the meantime and I will put you in Mountjoy,’ Judge Coughlan continued.

The judge imposed €100 fines on each of the two National Transport Authority summonses, and ordered the defendant pay €400 costs.