A man has been jailed for three months and put off the road for six years after being repeatedly caught driving without insurance.
Milan Armlich was sent to prison when he appeared at Letterkenny District Court this week.
The 44-year-old, with an address at Fairgeen Park, Long Lane, Letterkenny, faced three charges of driving without insurance on dates in 2018, 2019 and 2020 having had previous convictions for similar offences.
Details of the charges were given to the court by Sergeant Jim Collins.
On September 20, 2018, Gardai stopped Armlich at Rowan Park, Letterkenny. There were no documents visible on the vehicle he was driving. Armlich was charged with driving without insurance and driving without a valid driving licence.
Armlich drove off from a filling station in Bridgend without paying for €25 of fuel he put into his vehicle on November 13, 2018.
A bank card produced by Armlich declined and a contact number he provided did not work.
Technology in a Garda vehicle alerted officers to the tax being expired on a black Saab being driven by Armlich on August 13, 2019. A fixed charge penalty notice was issued, but was not paid.
On this date, Armlich was also charged with driving without insurance, driving without a licence, having no NCT and failing to produce his documents.
Gardai were operating a Covid-19 checkpoint in Killea on October 8, 2020 when a silver Hyundai Atos, being driven by Armlich, was stopped. A lawful demand was made for Armlich to produce his licence and insurance, but he did not do so.
An FCPN was issued with the vehicle not having NCT or tax displayed, but this was not paid.
Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that the accused has eight previous convictions, including some for no insurance.
Solicitor for Armlich, Mr Patsy Gallagher, said his client was a Czech national who has been in Ireland for 15-20 years.
Armlich, he said, is a father-of-nine who has been out of work for the last number of years.
“On a positive note, he has not come before the court since these matters and he has learned a salutary lesson,” Mr Gallagher said, asking the court not to impose a custodial sentence.
Judge Éiteáin Cunningham said she was ‘not impressed at all’ with a probation report on Armlich.
“Every opportunity has been afforded to him to engage with the services,” Judge Cunningham said.
“Warrants have been issued and he has a significant history of similar matters coming before the court. The report does not deem that he has gained any insight into the matters that are before the court.”
Taking into account his previous convictions and the probation report, Judge Cunningham convicted Armlich on each of the three counts of driving without insurance.
Armlich was given a three-month prison sentence on each charge. The sentences are to run concurrently.
Armlich was also disqualified from driving for six years.
The other matters were marked as taken into account by Judge Cunningham.
Recognisance in the event of an appeal was fixed at €500, with €250 to be lodged in court.