Man, 24, told he’s ‘on thin ice’

A MAN has been told that he is “on very thin ice” after he was given a suspended jail sentence on a no insurance charge at Sligo District Court. Normond Putra, 24, Radharc na hAbhann, Coolaney, pleaded guilty to charges of driving with no licence, insurance, or NCT at Lord Edward Street on March 30 last year.

He also pleaded guilty to driving with no licence and no insurance at Tullaghan, Coolaney, on April 22 last. Sergeant Derek Butler told the court the defendant initially took evasive action when spotted by gardai in March last year and he was stopped at Lord Edward Street. He was detained for driving with a similar offence when stopped the following month, the court heard. The court heard this was the defendant’s third conviction for no insurance. Defence solicitor John Anderson said his client had previously been given a chance and had alcohol issues. But since May of this year, his partner has been a calming influence on him.

They were in a stable relationship, and he was looking for work. He knows he can’t drive and should not have been driving on the dates in question.

The defendant knew he could be facing jail, but he had moved on with his life and had no car.

Judge Raymond Finnegan told the defendant that he was “on very thin ice”.

He fined the defendant €250 for no insurance, €100 for no licence and €100 for no NCT on March 30.

The judge jailed the defendant for five months suspended for two years on the no insurance charge and he must not drive any vehicle in that period. He banned the defendant from driving for four years and took the no licence charge into consideration.