Man with 'driving record as bad' as judge 'has seen' receives suspended sentence for no insurance

Judge Sandra Murphy told a Carrigallen man it was his “last chance” when she handed down a suspended sentence for no insurance.

Michael Kenna, 7 Clooncorrick, Carrigallen was charged with no insurance, no driving licence and driving while disqualified at Main Street, Carrigallen on October 25, 2022.

The case had been previously heard at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court and was finalised last week.

Mr Kenna pleaded guilty to the charges. The court heard that on the above date at 9.20am on Main Street, Carrigallen he was stopped and arrested when Gardai discovered he was driving while disqualified.

The court heard Mr McKenna has 25 previous convictions - six for no insurance.

Judge Sandra Murphy had previously noted that the defendant’s “driving record is as bad as I’ve seen.”

Solicitor Martin Burke said it had been 2015 since his client’s last interaction with gardai. The defence solicitor assured Judge Murphy that his client had not been driving since the incident and is aware “how close to Castlerea prison he is.”

A letter from the defendant’s GP was handed into court and Mr Burke outlined that his client is 37-years-old with four children.

Judge Sandra Murphy sentenced him to five months in prison, suspended for 24 months along with a six-year driving disqualification for driving with no driver's licence while disqualified.

She ordered that he must complete the pro social driving course and concluded saying this was Mr Kenna’s “last chance.”