Clondalkin man gets two-year ban for driving with no insurance

By Brendan Grehan

A BUTCHER who drove without insurance left Blanchardstown Court with a two-year ban.

Judge David McHugh heard that John Flynn had received a driving ban for accumulating 12 penalty points for driving while holding a mobile phone.

Flynn, aged 36, with an address at Deansrath Green, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to having no insurance and no driving licence at Lindisfarne Avenue in Clondalkin on December 10, 2016.

He also pleaded guilty to giving a false name at Lindisfarne Avenue on the above date.

Sergeant Maria Callaghan told the court that on December 10 last, gardai stopped Flynn on Lindisfarne Avenue.

She said Flynn had no insurance disc displayed on his car and gave his name as “Gary Flynn” which turned out to be false. Sgt Callaghan said Flynn chose to produce his driving licence and insurance certificate at Clondalkin Garda Station but failed to do so.

She said Flynn had six previous convictions, including three for holding a mobile phone while driving.

Sgt Gallagher said Flynn also had a previous for no insurance from 2009.

Flynn’s solicitor confirmed to Judge McHugh that her client had received a road ban from the combined penalty points for the mobile phone offences.

She said Flynn is a butcher by trade and is a father of four children.

She said: “I’m sure you have heard the one where he was taking the car for a spin, but in this instance he was in the process of selling his car.”

Judge McHugh said: “Oh, the other one.”

The solicitor asked the judge not to impose a disqualification.

She said Flynn is due to start work as a regional manager with a retail chain the following day and he had explained to them that he was disqualified and they had agreed to provide transport for him to get from branch to branch.

Judge McHugh said he had no discretion in the matter as it was not a first offence for no insurance.

He added that if he failed to impose a disqualification he would expect the DPP “to go straight to the High Court”.

He fined Flynn €250 and imposed a two-year ban. The two remaining offences were taken into consideration.