A Westmeath man who has three previous convictions for drink driving and four for having no insurance has been jailed for five months at Tullamore District Court.
Eddie Kinihan of Streamstown, Mullingar pleaded guilty to a further charge of having no insurance when he was stopped at Main Street, Kilbeggan on August 25.
Initially he gave Garda Pauline McGhee a false name but she found his real identification on searching him.
He then admitted to driving while disqualified. The 26-year-old has 30 previous convictions and has thusfar completed 280 hours community service in lieu of a jail term.
Ms Patricia Cronin admitted her client, an unemployed labourer had “an appalling history” on the roads, but had moved out of town to stay away from people he was getting in trouble with.
He didn’t realise how difficult life would be, 10 miles from the nearest shop. His car had since been destroyed.
His partner is training to be a nurse and also works part-time as a waitress.
Kinihan wanted to apologise to the gardaí and said it wouldn’t happen again.
However, Judge Gerard Haughton said that doing community service hadn’t brought home to Kinihan the seriousness of driving while drunk or without insurance.
He disqualified him for 10 years on charges of driving while disqualified, having no insurance, and giving a false name under the Road Traffic Act.
He also jailed him for five months for having no insurance for the fifth time.
