Longford District Court: ‘​The game is up’ for man with ‘shocking’ record

​A 22 year old Cavan man with a “shocking record,” appeared before Longford District Court charged with a series of road traffic offences.

Jerome Farrelly of Rafian, Belturbet, Cavan, was initially charged with allegedly driving without a license and insurance, and driving while over the alcohol limit.

The charges, which were brought before the court by Garda David Conroy, arose from April 5 of this year at Culleenmore, Granard, Longford.

New charges have since been brought before the court by Garda Yvonne Glacken, in relation to a separate incident which occurred on August 4 of this year at Kilmore, Dring in Longford. On this occasion, Farrelly was charged with alleged dangerous driving, and driving without a license and insurance.

Representing the accused was solicitor Frank Gearty. The court heard that Farrelly had been disqualified from driving when the initial offences occurred.

As Judge Owens read through the new charges of “no insurance, dangerous driving, and no license,” Mr Gearty interjected to add, “Without trying to diminish the facts alleged, I have suggested a plea to careless driving rather than dangerous driving. I am awaiting the State’s response to that.”

Court Sergeant Enda Daly replied, “Yes Judge owing to the plea, no difficulty.”

Requesting the facts for the original offences, Garda Conroy’s matters, Court Sergeant Enda Daly replied how on April 5, 2026 at 10.15pm in Culleenmore, Granard, Garda Conroy had been doing a routine patrol when he observed the vehicle “driving erratically” on Main Street. He said when Gardaí conducted inquiries on a mobility device, “it was discovered the vehicle was uninsured.”

When the defendant was subsequently arrested and brought to Longford Garda Station, it was discovered that he was a disqualified driver.

“The demand was made to undertake to produce documents, driver’s license and insurance but he failed to do so,” said Sgt Daly.

Outlining the facts of Garda Glacken’s charges arising from the morning of August 4, 2026, Sgt Daly explained that a road traffic collision at Kilmore, Dring in Longford, led Gardaí to discover that the defendant who was the driver of a “Silver Berlingo Van Citroen” “couldn’t produce a driving license and that he was disqualified from driving.”

Sgt Daly said the other driver “had observed this Citroen driving at her at speed, crossing the right side of the road and colliding onto the front passenger-side causing damage.” He explained the road was wet at the time following a dry spell and that “it was also narrow and would have required drivers to drive with caution.”

Addressing Solr Gearty, Judge Bernadette Owens said it was of great concern to her that the defendant had been on bail at the time of Garda Glacken’s offences.

In response, Solr Gearty, offered some context around the situations in question, explaining with regard to the drink driving charge that it was at the lower end, so much so, that the reading would have even been under the limit “once upon a time.”

Speaking with regard to the April 5 offences, Solr Gearty said his client’s girlfriend had been socialising in Granard and rang him to say she couldn’t get a lift.

"Regretfully Judge, he took a chance and drove his own car into town, had two drinks with her and was taking her home when regretfully he revved his car and that drew attention to him and the Gardaí spoke to him. The reading itself was at the lower level and while it should not have even reached that level, once upon a time, it would have been under the limit.”

In relation to the most recent charges, Solr Gearty said the incident occurred as a result of a suspected brake defect which led to the vehicle not operating correctly.

“Judge, he was driving to his girlfriend’s house at about 7am on the Thursday morning. He drove up the hill, saw the car coming towards him, put the brakes on and the best we can ascertain, Judge, is that there was an ABS defect which led to the car not operating. I appreciate that that’s almost an aggravating factor rather than a mitigating factor but those are the facts.”

Solr Gearty explained that the vehicle in question had been purchased recently “not in complete disregard to his disqualification order but because his trade is to fix up vehicles and sell them off.”

"That’s why the vehicle had been purchased. This temptation was there. He should never have taken it out. He’s 22 years of age, a mechanic who services heavy goods vehicles and he farms. He did complete his Leaving Cert so if it wasn’t for this issue, he would have great prospects for the future. He loves vehicles but he, in his own words to me, understands the game is up. He is a country man who would never be in the peril he is today were it not for this notion about cars.”

Solr Gearty asked Judge Owens to consider not sending his client to prison, noting there was “a real prospect of rehabilitation in this instance.”

“He is pleading with you to consider not sending him to prison despite his record which he acknowledges is shocking,” said Solr Gearty. “He is attentive and respectful to the court in the way he presented himself. It’s one of those frustrating cases where sometimes you have these 22 year olds who in every other way are going to be good for society but there’s these blind spots when it comes to motor vehicles.”

Judge Owens said it was of huge concern to her that Farrelly was before the court with two separate offence statements “where he was driving while disqualified, no insurance and complicated by a drink driving element in one of them and a careless driving element in another.”

She directed a community assessment but also directed that he undergo a pro-social driving course, adding that she wanted to see him complete that course before she finalises matters.

Farrelly entered into a bail bond of €100 with the condition that he not drive a vehicle pending the finalisation of the cases. He is listed to appear again before the court on December 15.