Nine months in prison and 15 year ban for uninsured Clondalkin motorist
By Brendan Grehan
A SHOOTING VICTIM who drove three times without insurance has been jailed for nine months by Blanchardstown Court. Judge David McHugh also banned Keith Willis (27) from driving for 15 years.
In May 2016, Willis was shot in a drive-by attack in Shancastle Drive in Clondalkin.
A silver car with two men pulled up and one fired up to four bullets, hitting Willis twice, in the left arm and leg. Willis was taken by ambulance to Blanchardstown Hospital where he was later discharged.
Willis , with an address at Rossmore Avenue, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to having no insurance and no driving licence at St Mark’s Drive, Clondalkin, on February 1, 2017 and at Collinstown Road, Clondalkin, on April 9, 2016.
He also pleaded guilty to having no insurance, no licence and giving a false name at Kylemore Road, Ballyfermot, on June 13, 2016.
Sergeant Maria Callaghan told the court that at 11.58pm on February 1 last, gardai stopped a car on St Mark’s Drive after it overtook a car dangerously. She said the driver was Willis and the gardai knew he was disqualified at the time and his car was seized.
Sgt Callaghan said that at 4.40pm on Collinstown Road on April 9, 2016, gardai stopped a car driven by Willis. He had later failed to produce his licence and insurance at Ballyfermot Garda Station.
On June 13, 2016, Willis was stopped after he took a sharp turn into a petrol station on Kylemore Road and then pulled straight out again.
Sgt Callaghan said Willis gave his name as “Keith Raleigh” which she said the gardai knew to be false.
Sgt Callaghan said Willis had 82 previous convictions including 16 for no insurance.
At Bray Court on February 13 last, he had been sentenced to six months with a 15-year disqualification for no insurance.
At Mullingar District Court on February 10 last, he had received a 30-year ban for no insurance.
Willis’ solicitor, Simon Fleming, said his client had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. He said Willis “lives with his nanny in Ballyfermot”.
Judge McHugh noted that the offences occurred while Willis was on bail. He fined Willis €500 with a 10-year ban for the no insurance on April 9, 2016. He sentenced Willis to four months jail with a 12-year ban for no insurance on June 13, 2016.
In addition he sentenced Willis to five months jail to run consecutively from the end of the four month sentence with a 15-year ban for the no-insurance charge from January 2017.
