Man is jailed for repeatedly breaching road traffic laws
The defendant has repeatedly come before the courts for road traffic breaches.
A Dublin man who has repeatedly driven while drunk and uninsured has been sent to prison.
John Connell, aged 39, of Ballynakelly Edge, Newcastle, Co Dublin pleaded guilty at Ballina District Court to drink driving, dangerous driving and failing to have insurance.
The court heard that Gardaí encountered Connell driving in the wrong direction on McDermott Street in Ballina at 10.20pm on May 8, 2022, and arrested him for drunk driving. A blood test gave a reading of 188mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 50mg.
Solicitor Cathal Deacy told the court that Connell is attending regular meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous and does seem to now have an insight that “alcohol is the source of his problem”.
The married father of four recently completed a restorative justice programme and is trying to turn his life around. However, the Probation Service deemed him to be at a high risk of reoffending. Connell has four previous convictions for driving without insurance and four previous convictions for drunk driving.
Judge Fiona Lydon imposed a six-month prison sentence but suspended the final two months on condition Connell entered into a Probation Bond for six months. She also banned him from driving for 10 years. Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal.
