Longford judge hands rogue driver with ‘appalling history’ a six year road ban

A 33 year old man with an “appalling history” has been disqualified from driving for six years and ordered to carry out 200 hours of community service in place of six months imprisonment.

Father of two, Lee O’Connell, with an address of 39 St Attracta Road, Cabra was originally arrested and charged on February 13 this year by Garda Allan Doherty of Longford Garda Station.

Recounting the details of the incident for the court, Sergeant Enda Daly acting for the state said Garda Doherty was on patrol when he observed a car acting suspiciously before taking off at speed and subsequently turning into a private dwelling to avoid Gardaí.

Upon further investigation, it was established that the driver of the car, Lee O’Connell, had been disqualified from driving.

Sgt Daly said the matter “before court was that he was driving without license and insurance.”

Speaking about Mr O’Connell's previous convictions, of which he has 63, Sgt Daly explained “a lot of them are drug related.”

Addressing the accused’s solicitor, Mr Diarmuid Quinn, Judge Deirdre Gearty remarked, “Mr Quinn, this is an appalling history! He doesn’t get the message at all!”

Mr Quinn replied that from speaking with his client, it was mainly drug issues that were the source of the problem.

He told the court, “I do have some items to hand in with regard to the treatment he received mainly in the UK. He did inform me of the many previous offences he has in relation to driving. It really is inexcusable to be before the court again.”

Mr Quinn added, “He now has enrolled in a course and is learning how to be a chef in Dublin.

"He has been in residential treatment in the UK where he received treatment for drug addiction and he feels he has turned his life around. He’s a young man and he does have two young children.”

When Judge Gearty queried how Mr O’Connell could be finished his recovery treatment already, Mr Quinn added, “He has come home to deal with court matters, so he has not finished it but once he has finalised matters, he does intend to go back into residential treatment.”

Replied Judge Gearty, “I’m going to do a terrible thing to poor Michael from the probation service and ask about a same day assessment,” adding that she did not want to put the probation officer under pressure as the charges before the court were serious in their nature.

“It’s a definite imprisonment situation,” she said, “I am checking to see if suitability for community service is an option.” She added, “I have a sentence in mind.”

Probation services confirmed later that day for Judge Gearty that Mr O’Connell was willing to carry out community service and that there were no medical issues to prevent him from doing so.

Judge Gearty sentenced Mr O’Connell to 200 hours community service in lieu of six months imprisonment. She also disqualified Mr O’Connell from driving for six years.

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