A MAN who was put off the road for ten years in 2019 for repeatedly driving without insurance is attempting to get his licence back early, but this application is being strenuously opposed by the Gardaí.
Garda Sgt Christy Brown told Judge James Faughnan at Ballinasloe District Court that the applicant had been disqualified from driving on three separate occasions for periods of over two years, so he was not entitled to have his ten-year ban cut short after seven years. He added that the man had a total of eight driving without insurance convictions on his record.
However, Jack Duncan solr (defending ) was of the opinion that his client,
William Harty, Ballivor, Co Meath, was entitled to apply to have his licence returned this July. Sgt Brown argued that anyone suspended three times for periods of over two years within a ten-year period was not eligible to make such an application.
Mr Duncan pleaded that his client had been a single man and “very foolish” in 2019, going through a traumatic time following the death of his mother. He was now married with seven children and a very different person.
He lived in a rural area and his wife didn’t drive, so this posed difficulties in getting children to school and other issues.
But Sgt Brown stated that there were very good reasons for Harty being put off the road for ten years. He had eight convictions for driving without insurance and 26 previous convictions in all. These included ones for assault and offensive weapons.
Harty said he was a carpenter and he had an offer of employment, but needed to be able to drive his employer’s van.
Sgt Brown pointed out that having Harty driving a van could have serious ramifications for an employer regarding his insurance company, adding that Harty’s record would have to be disclosed to the employer. Mr Duncan said this had already been done.
Judge Faughnan said he liked to see people turning their lives around but if he was to accede to the request before him he would need to see proof that the employer knew about Harty’s record. Sgt Brown insisted that Harty was not entitled under any circumstance to get his licence back.
Judge Faughnan said he would look at the matter again in July but Harty needed to complete a Driver Aware course before then.
