A young Loughanure man has been jailed eight months after he admitted driving with no insurance.
Dillan McCool (21), who has several previous convictions for road traffic offences and is currently appealing jail sentences, was before Dungloe District Court.
“What part of the not driving order do you not understand?” Judge Deirdre Gearty asked the defendant.
McCool pleaded guilty to a charge of driving with no insurance and no licence on June 14 at Annagry.
Inspector Seamus McGonigle told the court the defendant was stopped driving a Black Mercedes in Annagry on the day in question.
The Inspector said the arresting garda knew the defendant was banned from driving at the time he was apprehended.
The court heard McCool had three previous convictions for no insurance and convictions for theft, drunk driving, unauthorised taking of a vehicle and dangerous driving.
He was banned from driving for four years also.
Defence solicitor, Mr Robert Ryan, said the court was well aware of the defendant and his previous convictions.
He had been diagnosed with intellectual disabilities and had been getting treatment for them.
The defendant was traumatised by the death of his mother just over a year ago,
Mr Ryan said, and there was a “childish innocence and impulsiveness” about the defendant.
“Do you have any medical records”? asked Judge Deirdre Gearty.
The solicitor said he had something from a counsellor.
He added that the defendant had a “childish mentality” and was very co-operative with gardai when arrested.
Judge Gearty noted that the defendant could not drive a car.
“Why are you out driving cars again and again,” she asked him.
McCool told the court he was buying and selling cars.
The judge said the defendant had been banned again and again and did not understand that this did not sit well with the court.
Judge Gearty jailed the defendant for eight months and banned from driving for six years on the no insurance charge and took the charge of having no licence into consideration.
Leave to appeal to the circuit court was set at the defendant’s own bond of €500 and a €500 independent surety.