Jail sentence for not having insurance in Laois

A jail sentence and 20 year driving ban was handed down to a man who was caught without insurance for a seventh time. 

Marian Botos, 39, of 24 Rushall, Mountrath pleaded guilty at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court to not having a licence or insurance on the Portlaoise Road, Mountrath on March 1, 2024.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant was stopped while driving a 05WW registered red  Hyundai car at 10.15am on the date in question. Once stopped, gardaí discovered the man was disqualified from driving. He said he had six previous convictions for driving while uninsured. 

Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client was married with three children. He was originally from Slovakia but has been in Ireland for 13 years. He said his client was driving a car registered to his wife who was ill at the time. 

“He was going to collect his  son from school,” said Mr Meagher. 

Mr Meagher said his client had previously been given a driving ban and a suspended sentence and had mistakenly believed the ban would end with the term of the suspended sentence. He accepted the man had “an appalling record” and asked the court to consider not imprisoning him. 

Judge Andrew Cody said the man’s last two suspended sentences had not deterred him from offending. 

He imposed a six month jail sentence, disqualified the man from driving for 20 years and fined him €500. He fixed recognisance in case of an appeal. 

Mr Meagher said he had anticipated a custodial sentence and lodged an appeal with the court immediately after the case was heard.