Longford Judge condemns doctor for showing 'total disregard' for law after he was caught driving while disqualified

A judge has ordered a medical doctor, who showed 'total disregard' for the law and drove while he was disqualified and without insurance, to complete 150 hours of community service.

Erdrin Iskander (45) of The Meadows, Pettiswood Manor, Mullingar, county Westmeath pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to the offences and driving without tax last week.

Sergeant Mark Mahon said Gardaí were on patrol at Lisnagrish, Edgeworthstown on January 28 last when they stopped the defendant driving his car at approximately 5.30pm.

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The court heard officers were alerted that there was no tax or insurance on the vehicle from a Garda active mobility device.

“He admitted that he was aware he was disqualified at the time, and he was arrested and cautioned,” Sgt Mahon added.

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The court heard Iskander was disqualified on January 14 last when he accumulated 12 penalty points for multiple offences, and he received a six month driving ban.

The defendant had three previous convictions including two for careless driving.

Solicitor Frank Gearty stated his client had admitted he was not covered by insurance on the vehicle he was detected in.

However, he said the Malaysian national was covered on another vehicle and that he took out an insurance policy on the offending vehicle the following day.

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Mr Gearty said his client, a married father of five who travelled on the train to attend court, was at his place of work at the time of the detection.

The legal representative said Mr Iskander was informed by an RSA letter that he had been disqualified for six months and as a medical doctor he depends on his driving licence.

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"This is a very serious situation, I am making an application that you consider the circumstances of this case,” he added.

Mr Gearty asked Judge Bernadette Owens not to disqualify Mr Iskander despite admitting it was a bold move to do so, and he insisted he was not taking the court for granted.

“This is a first conviction for driving without insurance so the discretion, however, audacious it may be for me to even mention such a word in the context of what’s here today is available to the court notwithstanding the fact that he was driving while disqualified," he added.

Mr Gearty handed in a reference from one of Mr Iskander’s colleagues which outlined the work he does.

“He provides professional services to the community in county Longford,” he said. “He will never drive while disqualified again.”

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The court heard Mr Iskander qualified as a doctor from UCD in Dublin.

Judge Owens stated the defendant “has shown a complete and total disregard” for the law and the court and she directed him to complete the community service in lieu of four months imprisonment.

She also ordered Mr Iskander to complete the Pro Social driving course and she adjourned the case until May 13 next.