Longford District Court: Disqualified driver was stopped by gardaí on his way to mosque

A driver stopped at a Garda checkpoint on his way to a mosque who was previously banned from the road avoided a prison sentence at Longford District Court.

Mohammad Fazil (35) of 32 Market Point, Market Square, Longford was stopped at a checkpoint at Battery Road, Longford. The defendant was charged with driving a mechanically propelled vehicle without a driving licence or insurance.

Sergeant Conor McShane told Judge Bernadette Owens that on April 10, 2023 at 11:05pm officers conducting a checkpoint in Longford town stopped a blue Volkswagen Golf. They spoke to the driver, who said he did not have his drivers licence on his person.

When questioned further the driver admitted he was disqualified. The ban was a court imposed disqualification for driving without insurance.

Solicitor for the defendant, Frank Gearty, said his client could have been in a more precarious position as three years had elapsed since the previous offence.

Judge Bernadette Owens observed that while three years elapsed since the previous offence, less than three years have passed since the convictions.

“I always look on the bright side,” Mr Gearty said.

The solicitor said prior to the no insurance conviction Mr Fazil had an “exemplary record”. The legal representative said the defendant was on his way to the mosque when he was stopped.

Though now living in Longford the defendant is originally from Pakistan. He works in the security industry: “He is extremely sorry for his behaviour. He is begging for the mercy of the court and promises there will be no repetition of the offending.

“He understands he is going to get a significant disqualification and is asking to be spared prison,” Mr Gearly said.
Having considered the facts of the case Judge Owens registered a conviction. The judge imposed a sentence of four months in prison for the offences, however she directed that that term be suspend for one year. The road traffic breach also attracted a six year driving ban.

When the defendant was signing his bond the judge warned: “I will have no hesitation in invoking the suspended sentence if your are back before the court.”