Judge says surname of defendant is ‘Kind of ironic’ as Mr Innocent is convicted

A judge had told a man she convicted of driving without insurance that his surname Innocent is 'kind of ironic'.

Judge Deirdre Geraghty made the lighthearted comments during a sitting of Longford District Court last week.

Amaechi Innocent of Chestnut Close, Royal Canal. Mullingar, county Westmeath pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle without an insurance policy at Granard Road, Edgeworthstown on March 23 last.

Garda Jamie Rosney said he was on patrol on the Granard Road when he stopped the defendant and he spoke to him.

The defendant provided his name but the officer noticed there was no valid insurance disc on the windscreen of the vehicle.

Garda Rosney made a lawful demand was made to Mr Innocent to produce his insurance cert and driving licence at a garda station of his choice within 10 days, however, he failed to do so.

The defendant had five previous convictions.

Judge Deirdre Geraghty said Mr Innocent had been 'scant' with the information he had provided to gardaí and to the court.

She noted the guilty plea and his previous coonvictions and decided to convict the defendant and she imposed a €500 fine.
"I would say no more, your name is kind of ironic as well," she added.

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