Judge left with 'no option' but to jail uninsured Longford drunk driver

A man who pleaded guilty to his eight driving without insurance conviction left the court with “no option” but to impose a custodial sentence.

Elvinas Svenciunas (25) of 19 Bracklin Park, Edgeworthstown, Longford came to garda notice on March 3, 2024 at Camlin Filling Station, Dublin Road, Longford.

The defendant was prosecuted for driving under the influence of alcohol, and driving without insurance or a drivers licence.
Solicitor Brid Mimnagh told Judge Bernadette Owens that her client was pleading guilty to all matters.

Outlining details of the offence Sergeant Enda Daly said that at 5:20pm officers stopped a blue Lexus car and spoke to the driver, Mr Svenciunas.

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The officers noted that the driver's eyes were glassy and there was a strong smell of intoxicating liquor.

The defendant failed a roadside breath test. An examination of Mr Svenciunas's documentation revealed he was disqualified from driving at the time.

He was arrested and brought to Longford Garda station and a breath test returned a reading of 67mg per 100ml.
Sergeant Daly told the court the defendant had 29 previous convictions and that seven of them were for driving without insurance.

Ms Mimnagh explained that her client was working on the car when he got a call that his child had to come home from school early. His partner had to go to work and so he took a chance to drive the car.

The solicitor said her client was well respected in his workplace and had learned his lesson from the incident: “He just wants to work and support his family,” Ms Mimnagh said.

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Noting that this was Mr Svenciunas's eight conviction for driving without insurance and that he was disqualified at the time Judge Owens said: “I cannot ignore the previous convictions, and the court has no option but to impose a custodial sentence.”

Judge Owens registered a conviction and imposed a sentence of five months in prison for the no insurance and a consecutive four month sentence for the drink driving charge.

Mr Svenciunas was also disqualified from driving for 10 years.