Louth man sentenced for driving without insurance

A north Louth man with 44 previous convictions has been sentenced to four months at Dundalk District Court for driving without insurance.

Daniel O'Riordan (35) formerly with an address at Point Road, Bellurgan was also before the court for driving without a driving licence, for non-display of insurance, and also for failing to produce his driving documents at Bellurgan on October 14th 2020.

The defence solicitor said his client had been in and out of custody in the past and suffered a very serious back injury in an accident in 2007 and had been using cannabis to ease his pain.

After the court heard he had been given a suspended sentence in February for driving without insurance, a month before the offence before the court, the solicitor urged the court to give his client "one last opportunity" and added he is effectively homeless as he is living in a hostel in Carlingford.

An illicit cigarette factory in north Louth had the capacity to manufacture 3m cigarettes a day, court heard

The solicitor also said Mr. O'Riordan has been volunteering with a local animal charity taking dogs out for walks.

Judge Eirinn McKiernan said she would consider community service and put the case back to later in the list.

When the case was recalled later that day, the court was told that the defendant was not a suitable candidate for community service. 

Judge McKiernan imposed a four month sentence for driving without insurance and disqualified him from driving for four years.

She fixed recognizance for an appeal on his own bond of €300 and an independent surety with €500 cash to be lodged.