Motorcyclist was meant to be serving ban at time of collision
The defendant pleaded guilty to the offences.
A motorcyclist was supposed to be serving a driving ban when he was involved in a collision.
Blaine Connolly, aged 40, Tavneena, Charlestown pleaded guilty at Ballina District Court to driving without insurance or a driving licence.
Sgt Shane Kelleher told the court that Connolly was involved in a road traffic collision whilst driving a motorcycle at Dromada, Killasser, Swinford, on June 7, 2025.
Connolly had been disqualified from driving at the time of this incident after a four-year driving ban was imposed on him, along with a suspended jail term, in February 2025. He has two previous convictions for driving without insurance.
Solicitor Morgan Coleman said Connolly, a blocklayer by trade, had been fixing up the motorcycle to sell it because “his driving career was over” and while en route to make repairs, he was blindsided and hit by a car, causing him to suffer substantial injuries.
Mr Coleman said his client had completed a driver awareness course and was very sorry for what had occurred.
Noting that this offence would activate Connolly’s suspended jail term, Judge Ciaran Liddy said he would let the original term now “run its course" instead of imposing another prison sentence. He imposed a four-year driving ban and a fine of €250.
