Man driving recovery truck with no tax and insurance gets 200 hours community service
A DRIVER who was driving a 7.5 tonne recovery truck has been banned from driving for five years by Blanchardstown District Court.
Noting that it was Richard Ndaba’s third conviction for having no insurance, Judge David McHugh sentenced Ndaba to 200 hours community service with four months jail in default.
Blanchardstown District Court
Garda Keith Lambe told the court that at 2.45pm on November 26, 2018, he was part of a multi-agency checkpoint on the Nangor Road in Clondalkin when he stopped a 7.5 tonne Man recovery truck driven by Ndaba.
He said the tax on the vehicle had expired and added that it’s certificate of roadworthiness had also expired.
Garda Lambe said Ndaba gave his name as “Prince Sunny” with an address in Ongar, Dublin 15.
He said Ndaba was arrested and taken to Clondalkin Garda Station where the defendant later produced a driving licence in his own name. Garda Lambe said Ndaba was not licensed to drive the recovery truck which required a category C licence. The Garda said the recovery truck was loaded with a car at the time of the offence. Ndaba, aged 51, with an address at Marino Park Avenue, Dublin 3, pleaded guilty to having no insurance and giving a false name and address at the Nangor Road on the above date.
Garda Lambe said Ndaba had a number of previous convictions. At Court 8 on July 26, 2019, he had been fined €500 with a two-year ban for no insurance. At Court 8 on February 19, 2019, Ndaba had been fined €400 for no insurance.
At Blanchardstown Court on November 16, 2017, Ndaba had been fined €200 for speeding.
Ndaba’s solicitor, John Wood, said his client had been living in Ireland for 25 years. Mr Wood said that on the date in question, the man who was designated to drive the recovery lorry had not turned up for work and Ndaba “foolishly took a chance and drove”.
Judge McHugh sentenced Ndaba to 200 hours community service with four months jail in default for having no insurance and also imposed a five-year driving ban. He also fined Ndaba €150. for giving a false name and address.
