A COUNTY Limerick father-of-seven who was caught driving without insurance for a second time, with a suspended jail sentence already hanging over his head, was told by a judge that he “had his chance and he blew it.”
William O’Donnell of Fairyfield, Kilmallock, was stopped by Gardaí while driving at Garryduff, Oola on March 30, 2022.
At the time he was stopped he had a four month jail sentence hanging over him for a previous driving offence. The court also heard that Mr O’Donnell had the sentence suspended for two years, provided he was not convicted of any further offences.
Addressing the new conviction at Kilmallock District Court this week, Mr O’Donnell’s solicitor asked Judge Patricia Harney not to impose consecutive sentences when she imposed a further one month sentence and a 15 year driving ban.
“He is a family man with seven children aged between 21 and seven years,” the solicitor told the court.
However, considering the request from Mr O’Donnell’s solicitor, Judge Harney said the accused man “has an appalling history. He got a chance and he blew it.”
Judge Harney activated the previous sentence, to be served before the new sentence begins, and set bail for an appeal at €100.
