Tallaght driver with 9 life bans for no insurance gets five months jail

By Brendan Grehan

A DRIVER who has nine life bans for no insurance was jailed for five months by Tallaght Court.

Gerry Connors, aged 28, with an address at Daletree Halting Site, Firhouse, pleaded guilty to having no insurance, no driving licence and no road tax at the N81 Tallaght Bypass, on September 11, 2015.

He also pleaded guilty to simple possession of cannabis at Killininny Road, Firhouse, on April 7, 2015.

Garda Marie Dennison told Judge Patricia McNamara that she stopped Connors in a 2007 Volvo C30 on September 11, 2015.
She said Connors told her that he did not have a licence.

Garda Dennison said Connors later failed to produce his driving licence and insurance at Tallaght Garda Station.

Sergeant Michael Ahern told the court that Connors was stopped and searched on Killininny Road on April 7, 2015, and found in possession of €25 worth of cannabis.

Garda Dennison said Connors has 71 previous convictions including nine life bans for no insurance. She said he also has two 40-year bans for no insurance.

Connors’ solicitor, Michael Hennessy, said his client had been made a trustee while in prison and had completed a number of gardening projects. He asked the judge to let Connors do a driving course organised by the Restorative Justice Services.

Judge McNamara wondered what was the point of Connors doing a driving course when he has nine life driving bans.

She sentenced Connors to five months jail with a 10 year ban and a €1250 fine for having no insurance.

She also fined him €450 for having no licence and €300 for having no road tax. He was also fined €200 for the possession of cannabis.