A repeat roads offender has been fined and disqualified from driving after being caught behind the wheel while already disqualified and uninsured.
Jordan Gannon (28), with an address at Parnell Terrace, Arklow, Co Wicklow, pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and driving without a licence at Dún Laoghaire District Court.
The offences arose from an incident on December 14 last, when Gardaí stopped Gannon at a checkpoint.
The court heard that Gannon was unable to produce a valid driving licence or insurance certificate and Gardaí later confirmed he was banned from driving at the time, having been disqualified for three years on December 5, 2024.
Michael O’Brien BL, defending, outlined Gannon’s personal circumstances, telling the court the defendant has a young child and is currently undertaking an apprenticeship in carpentry.
He said his client understood he should not have been driving but believed he had no other option at the time, as his child, who suffers from an ongoing illness, needed to be collected.
Counsel acknowledged it was not Gannon’s first appearance before the courts and that he had previous convictions, including those for drink-driving.
He said Gannon is now adapting to life without a licence.
Judge Conor Fottrell said he had a degree of sympathy for Gannon’s personal circumstances but noted the seriousness of driving while disqualified and uninsured.
“This is a situation where the court has very little leeway”, the judge said.
Gannon was convicted and fined €500 for driving without insurance, with six months to pay.
He was also disqualified from driving for a further year from the hearing date (7 January) to run concurrently with his existing disqualification.
An application for legal aid was granted.