Judge warns serial Longford road traffic offender he ‘has ran out of road’
Longford District Court Judge Vincent Deane told defendant ‘His fate is in his own hands, if he doesn't want to go to jail he better not drive’
A judge has imposed a suspended five month jail sentence on a serial road traffic offender and warned he has 'ran out of road'.
Evaldas Palijonskas of 36 The Mill, Clondra pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to refusing to give his name and address to gardaí and to driving without a driving licence at Rhynmount, Clondra on December 21, 2025.
Sergeant Enda Daly, for the State, said that the defendant was stopped by officers on the date in question and he was uncooperative.
Gardaí made a lawful demand for his driving licence but he failed to present the document.
The court heard Mr Palijonskas had 19 previous convictions and he received three eight year driving disqualifications in December 2021 for multiple offences and another eight year ban and given a suspended four month prison sentence in October 2020.
Solicitor Diarmuid Quinn, defending, said his client obviously has a very poor record in terms of road traffic offences and he was clearly at risk of imprisonment, but he outlined he had recently completed a 12-week stint at Cuan Mhuire addiction treatment centre.
"What I will say for him is that on the evening in question he had only moved the car a few metres when he was unfortunately stopped by gardai.
"He hadn't driven for four years prior to that.
"It was just a moment of absolute stupidity judge, what I would say is that since that he has had residential treatment, he has had difficulties with alcohol and drugs.”
Mr Quinn said his client, a father of two, has essentially turned his life around and he is due to start a new construction job next week.
Mr Quinn asked Judge Deane not to send his client to prison 'given the strides he has made in his life thus far to change'.
Judge Deane said ordinarily the offence would warrant an immediate custodial sentence but he decided to impose a five month jail sentence, which he suspended for a period of two years.
Judge Deane also handed down a €100 fine with six months to pay. "Sergeant if he is caught behind the wheel don't be waiting to issue charge sheets for summonses, have him in here to activate that sentence.
"His fate Mr Quinn is in his own hands, if he doesn't want to go to jail he better not drive.
"If he wants to drive he has ran out of road now."