Longford court tells "gentleman" with 14 convictions that a driving disqualification is "the least of his problems"

A repeat road traffic offender who had previously been disqualified from driving before being caught on February 18 of this year driving without insurance and a license on the Dublin Road in Longford, has been convicted and sentenced to four months in prison and disqualified for 10 years. 

Appearing before Longford District Court accompanied by a translator, Mr Deniss Afromejevs of Aghnagore, Cloondara, Longford, pleaded guilty to the charges before the court, namely driving without insurance and driving without a license.

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In delivering the facts, Sergeant Enda Daly said the driver came to the attention of Gardaí after Garda McLoughlin observed the car travelling in a suspicious manner. Sgt Daly said no documents were displayed on the windscreen.

Deniss Afromejevs of Aghnagore, Cloondara, Longford

He told the court, “The Garda spoke with the driver who produced a foreign driving license. Garda McLoughlin then conducted inquiries into the vehicle and the driver and discovered that the tax had expired 535 days before and the driver had previously been disqualified from driving. The vehicle was seized.” 

Solicitor for Mr Afromejevs, was Ms Aoife Kelly who said her client had cooperated with Gardaí.  

The court heard that Mr Afromejevs had 14 previous convictions. 

In listing the convictions, Sgt Daly said, “the most recent was in this court February 2025 for offences on March 30 2024, driving without a licence was taken into consideration, no insurance, received a 4 month prison sentence suspended for a period of 18 months and he was disqualified for 10 years." 

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The sergeant added, “At this court in June 2024 for offences on October 29 2023, no insurance, a suspended 4 month prison sentence for a period of 2 years and he was disqualified for 15 years." 

“On the same date, driving without a license, he received a community service order, 240 hours, in lieu of 5 months. 

“In this court on November 1 2022 for offences on 23 October 2022, driving without license taken into consideration, no insurance, disqualified for 10 years, suspended 5 month prison sentence for a period of 12 months. It carries on Judge.” 

Solr Kelly told the court that her client “is a gentleman who is working and has two children aged 10 and 12.”

Deniss Afromejevs of Aghnagore, Cloondara, Longford leaving Longford District Court

As she told the court that he had ”previously been deemed a candidate for community service and under those circumstances we would seek…”, Judge Bernadette Owens interjected firmly, “No I don’t think so."

The Judge added, "In fairness, I think I have extended this man as much leniency as I possibly can. He has seven previous convictions for no insurance and this offence was committed while he was on effectively two suspended sentences. He had been given an opportunity by the court services before.”

In presenting mitigating factors, Solr Kelly stated that her client has 2 children who reside in Latvia with their mother. 

“He provides for them, he sends maintenance back to Latvia to support them. If he is put into custody he won’t be in a position to do that”  

“He should have thought about that before!” Judge Owens replied.  

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Sergeant Daly told the court that the penalties for driving on a licence that had expired over 12 months carried a maximum fine of up to €2,500. He added it also carried a six month prison sentence.

Solr Kelly interjected, “I understand it isn’t an automatic disqualification.” 

Judge Owens replied that she had been looking to see what imprisonment penalties were available for the offence and added that “disqualification is the least of this man’s problems at the moment.” 

In delivering her judgement, Judge Owens gave credit to Mr Afromejevs for having pleaded guilty. She added however that he came before the court with 'very relevant previous convictions'.

“He was before me on February 14 2025 for an offence in March 2024, no licence and no insurance and clearly I was persuaded on that occasion to give the man an opportunity, I imposed a 4 month sentence and suspended it for 18 months. 

“He was previously before the court and again was given the benefit of a suspended sentence. He was also given a community service order.”  

In respect of no insurance, he was given a prison sentence of four months and disqualified for 10 years.

He was later released on his own bond of €250 and ordered not to drive any mechanical vehicle.