A JUDGE told a Blarney motorist with 48 previous convictions that she was ‘reluctantly’ suspending a prison sentence after she convicted him of driving without insurance.

Kevin Walsh of Station Road, Blarney pleaded guilty at Bandon District Court to driving without insurance.

Sgt Eimear O’Connell told the court that at 10.50am on November 18th last Gda Michael Dunne stopped the defendant at Irishtown in Bandon and noticed there was no insurance on his car which was then seized.

The court heard he has 48 previous convictions including for no insurance, dangerous driving, assault, theft and failing to stop for a garda.

Solicitor Plunkett Taaffe said his client works as a painter in Bandon but lives in Blarney.

‘He was a named driver in his mum’s car but took his girlfriend’s car to work and he shouldn’t have done that,’ said Mr Taaffe.

Mr Walsh admitted that he has a past and was ‘stupid before.’

Judge Joanne Carroll sentenced him to four months in prison which she said she was ‘reluctantly’ suspending for two years.

She disqualified him from driving for two years and convicted and fined him €200 for failing to produce his insurance.