Six year road ban for uninsured driver
By Brendan Grehan
A REPEAT uninsured driver who drove while disqualified was banned from driving for six years by Tallaght District Court.
Judge Patricia McNamara warned Joseph Purcell that he will end up in jail if he continues to drive while banned.
Purcell, aged 64, with an address at Donomore Park, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to having no insurance and no driving licence at Belgard Road, Tallaght, on January 2, 2019.
Sergeant Michael Ahern told the court that Purcell had been stopped by gardai on the above date.
He said Purcell had 21 previous convictions and added that Purcell had a number for no insurance.
Sgt Ahern said the most recent conviction was from Tallaght Court on October 9, 2017, where Purcell had received a three-year disqualification for no insurance and a three month suspended sentence.
Judge Patricia McNamara commented that Purcell is banned from driving until October 2020.
Purcell’s solicitor, Eddie O’Connor, said Purcell had driven his wife’s car to go to the shops as he had a chest infection at the time.
Judge McNamara said: “The Gardai are doing a good job. They always seem to stop people when they are on their way to the shops. This seems to happen a lot.”
She warned Purcell that he would end up in jail if he continues to drive.
Purcell said: “I was just driving up to get a few things. My daughter is learning how to drive.”
Judge McNamara imposed a six-year driving ban and sentenced Purcell to five months jail suspended for 12 months, and fined him €450.
