Judge orders arrest of Longford man charged with string of motoring offences

Joe Mears (31) of 1 Richmond Street, Longford faced eight charges relating to driving without documentation.

The charges against the defence were that on March 14, 2023 at Townspark Longford he drove without documentation and on November 21, 2022 at Oakvale, Templemichael Glebe, Longford he drove without insurance, a drivers licence and tax and failed to produce those documents.

In the witness box Garda Denice Dockery outlined details of the March offences. Garda Dockery told how she stopped a silver Audi and spoke to the driver, Joe Mears. Mr Mears claimed he had an English drivers licence and undertook to produce it to Longford Garda station.

The licence was not produced. Garda Dockery explained that if there was no valid drivers licence then the insurance was automatically invalidated, and that in any event no insurance was not produced. The officer said she spoke to the defendant the week before the court sitting and Mr Mears continued to maintain he had an English licence.

Garda Dockery outlined how a request to Interpol for details of a UK driver's licence for Joe Mears received no results.

The defendant has two previous convictions, one for violent disorder and one for the unauthorised possession of cannabis. Judge Bernadette Owens said she would move to convict and fine the defendant.

Solicitor Diarmaid Quinn explained that his client's wife was pregnant and she had to go to Mullingar Hospital that morning. He said Mr Mears had taken her for the medical treatment when she was taken ill.

Judge Owens issued a bench warrant for the defendant before she dealt with the issue of sentence.