A man convicted a second time for driving without insurance while disqualified was given a week’s liberty to “clarify matters” after the judge told him he is “looking at prison”.
“His conduct is egregious, to say the least. He’s disqualified in December [2011], stopped again in February [2012]. He appeals it eight days later, and he drives again in August?” said Judge Seamus Hughes about Derek Keirnan (38 ) of Millrace, Bealnamullia, Co Roscommon.
“With all due respect, Mr McLynn, your client is looking at prison,” he continued.
Earlier, the court heard how Kiernan had been stopped in Monksland at 8.30am on August 20 with no driving documents, and was ordered to present them at a station of his choice within 10 days.
However, Garda Sean O’Mara told the court that when he returned to the station later to process the details he discovered on PULSE - the Garda computer system - that Kiernan had been disqualifed for “two years and a day at Athlone Circuit Court on February 20, 2012”.
Kiernan was originally stopped with no insurance on April 10, 2011, and convicted in the District Court on December 21, before failing in his appeal to the superior court two months later.
The court also heard how he had been stopped again without insurance by Garda Pauline McGhee on February 12, 2012.
Kiernan’s solicitor, Mr Tony McLynn, begged the court’s indulgence for a week’s adjournment “to clarify matters”, and Judge Hughes allowed this.
He then turned to Kiernan and asked where the Hiace was, and Kiernan said he was selling it.
“Get rid of it by next week, because you won’t be needing it for some time to come,” warned the judge.
