A Latvian man who was disqualified from driving for two years in 2008, and was detected driving in Belmullet in February — a week after he purchased a car — with no insurance or driving licence, was disqualified from driving for six years and given a suspended sentence at Belmullet District Court this week.
Lauris Kalnins, 1 College Park, Logmore, Belmullet, was observed driving on Shore Road by Garda Olga Treacy on February 13 at 8.52am. Garda Treacy recognised the driver and knew that Kalnins was disqualified. The defendant failed to produce insurance or a driving licence — the only charges which were brought against the defendant and Kalnins’ car was seized.
Solicitor Michael Bohan said that the 24-year-old supermarket employee who has been in Ireland for two years was disqualified from driving in 2008 and that his client knew that he did wrong when he drove the car.
Judge Mary Devins said to the defendant that “as a guest working in our country” do you think the “administration of justice in Ireland is a joke?”
For not having insurance Kalnins was convicted and fined €1,000, disqualified and given a three month prison sentence, which was suspended for 12 months. For having no driving licence he was convicted and fined €150.
