Disqualified for three months for no insurance

A  21-YEAR-old father-of-two from Drimoleague was told by a District Court Judge that he was flying in the face of the whole system for continuing to drive while disqualified. 

Judge Timothy Lucey made the comment when dealing with the case of Jordan Horgan of 2 Collins Apartments, Drimoleague at a recent sitting of Clonakilty Court where he sentenced him to three months for driving without insurance and disqualified him from driving for two years.

Mr Horgan, who appeared in court in custody on a bench warrant, pleaded guilty to three charges including driving without insurance, driving while disqualified and giving a false name and address.

Sgt Paul Kelly told the court that the defendant was stopped by Gda Mulcahy at Teddies Lower, Enniskeane on August 7th last year. When Gda Mulcahy asked for his driving licence he told him he did not have one and gave a false name and address.

‘Gda Mulcahy discovered that it was an incorrect name and address and that the defendant was disqualified from driving,’ said Sgt Kelly.

He was charged and released to appear at Bandon District Court in September last year.

The court was told that the defendant, who has a number of previous convictions, but none for no insurance, was arrested in Cork the previous Sunday night over a public order incident and it was then discovered by gardaí that there was an outstanding bench warrant for him.

Solicitor Conrad Murphy said his client is the father of a five-week-old son and  is on paternity leave, intending to go back to work as a labourer later this month. ‘He was supporting his son up until last Sunday when he was arrested in Cork,’ said Mr Murphy.

Judge Lucey said that ‘someone driving while disqualified is flying in the face of the whole system. He can’t just do that. I’ve listened to the plea about the new born child and that’s regrettable. The problem is it’s the family that gets the hit and they’re suffering and they didn’t commit the offences,’ said Judge Lucey.

‘He would want to think about that and stop offending.’

Judge Lucey sentenced him to three months on the no insurance charge, which he backdated to August 26th when he was first in custody, and disqualified him from driving for two years taking into consideration the other charges.