Judge John Coughlan refused bail to a 16-year-old boy who is charged in connection to the incident

A JUDGE has banned three drivers from driving for 40 years each after they were found to be with no insurance in three separate cases.

Judge John Coughlan imposed the penalties at Tallaght District Court.

The men involved are aged 24, 29 and 59.

The 59-year-old is a publican named Frank Kelly, with an address at the Grove, Kingswood Heights, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to having no insurance at a location in Tallaght on February 12, 2013.

A garda told Judge Coughlan that he stopped Kelly – and that Kelly later failed to produce his insurance certificate at Tallaght Garda Station.

Kelly's solicitor, Jeremiah Breen, asked the judge not to impose a custodial sentence. He said Kelly was a publican and would lose his business if sent to jail.

Judge Coughlan fined Kelly €500, banned him from driving for 40 years and sentenced him to five months jail, suspended for two years.

The 29-year-old was a serial uninsured driver the court heard.

Judge Coughlan heard that Karl Grant had been already disqualified when he was stopped by gardai three times for driving without insurance.

Grant, with an address at Belfry Square, Citywest, pleaded guilty to having no insurance and no driving licence at Belfry Square on March 7, 2013, at Citywest Shopping Centre, Citywest, on April 17, 2013, and at Alderwood Road, Tallaght, on March 16, 2013.

Garda Michelle McGuinness told the court that she stopped Grant on March 7 last. She said Grant later failed to produce his driving licence and insurance certificate at Tallaght Garda Station. The court also heard that Grant was stopped on March 16 and April 17.

Garda McGuinness said Grant had two previous for no insurance.

Judge Coughlan noted that Grant now had five for no insurance.

Grant's solicitor, Michael Hennessy, asked the judge not to impose a custodial sentence. He said Grant is working.

Judge Coughlan sentenced Grant to five months jail, suspended for two years and imposed a 40 year disqualification for the no insurance on March 7 and took the remaining matters into consideration.

In the third case, Alan McCabe, aged 24, with an address at Allenton Avenue, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to having no insurance and no driving licence at Old Court Road in Firhouse on March 20, 2013.

Garda Declan O'Sullivan told Judge John Coughlan in Tallaght Court that he stopped McCabe on the above date. He said McCabe later failed to produce his driving licence and insurance in Tallaght Garda Station.

He said McCabe had 22 previous convictions including for driving without insurance.

McCabe's solicitor, Michael Hennessy, asked Judge Coughlan not to impose a custodial sentence.

He said McCabe had just bought the car.

Judge Coughlan sentenced McCabe to four months imprisonment, suspended for two years and disqualified him from driving for 40 years.

Online Editors