A horse trader will be on shank’s mare for ten years or more after he was banned from driving once again for a decade by Judge John King at Galway District Court. The defendant was caught driving again after he was put off the road for ten years in 2021.
The Court heard that Clifden Gardaí stopped a van being driven by Shane O’Connell, Glasson, Westmeath, and he gave them a false name which turned out to be the name of the owner of the vehicle.
John Martin solr (defending ) pleaded that his client had been at a horse fair with the owner of the van who had to leave early, so O’Connell took a chance and said he’d drive the van despite the fact that he’d already been put off the road for driving without insurance.
Garda Sgt Christy Brown told the Court the defendant has 27 previous convictions, seven of which were for driving without insurance, a further seven for driving without a licence and one for drunk driving.
He had been put off the road at Limerick District Court in 2021for ten years and sentenced to one month in prison for driving without insurance. This ban was in place when he was stopped in Connemara.
Mr Martin said O’Connell dealt in horses and also worked on the buildings, earning €700 per week. He and his partner were expecting a child soon.
Judge King sentenced O’Connell to five months in prison and imposed a further ten-year driving ban. For driving while disqualified he imposed a consecutive five-month sentence, suspended for two years.
Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal.
