Banned driver jailed for 12th no insurance conviction

A man convicted for the 12th time of driving without insurance has been sentenced to five months in prison and banned from driving for seven years.

Peter Ward (31) was driving while under a 10-year driving ban which was handed down in 2015, Swords District Court heard. Ward, of Hazelcroft Gardens in Finglas, Dublin 11, pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and driving without a driving licence on May 27 on the R132 Pinnock Hill in Swords, Co Dublin.

Defence solicitor Fiona D'Arcy asked Judge Cormac Dunne if he would give the defendant credit for his guilty plea to which Judge Dunne said: "Yes, I'll fine him €250," and imposed the prison sentence and driving ban.

After he handed the defendant a prison sentence, the defendant said he had no one to mind his newborn baby to which Judge Dunne said: “You should have thought of that before driving without insurance. You don’t need a judge or lawyer to tell you you go to prison.”

He noted the defendant “has significant convictions,” and granted legal aid. After he fixed recognisances, the defendant immediately lodged an appeal.