Man caught driving without insurance twice in 30 minutes

A 48-year-old man was caught driving without insurance in Ashbourne on two occasions within 30 minutes of each other, Trim District Court was told.

Sergiu Moldovn, with an address at Tara Lawns, Ashbourne was stopped twice on 5th May last year by Garda Scarry.

On the first occasion he was driving a Vauxhall Astra and had been asked to produce his insurance but failed to do so.

Later that day he stopped the same driver, this time driving a different car, and he had no insurance.

Court Presenter Sergeant Tom Mahon said that the defendant had no previous convictions.

Defending solicitor Dermot Monahan said that his client was from Moldova, was married and had two children.

Judge Miriam Walsh said: “This is basically putting the fingers up to the laws of this country”.

She imposed a fine of €250, a three-year disqualification and a three month prison sentence on the insurance charge and a fine of €250 for having no driving licence.

Four other people were also fined and banned for having no insurance.

Twenty-six-year-old Samuel Cardoso Ribeiro, Silverlawns, Navan was stopped by Garda Fitzpatrick on the Proudstown Rad, Navan on 29th March last year. He said that the Brazilian diver had no insurance. He was fined €250 and disqualified for three years on the insurance charge and fined €250 for having no driving licence.

Thirty-two-year-old Kamilla Castro, Cairn Hill, Johnstown, Navan was stopped by Garda Leonard at Primatestown on 26th June last year. The court was told that the defendant’s vehicle was seized at the scene. He has no previous convictions. He was fined €350 and disqualified for three years on the insurance charge and fined €250 for having no licence.

Aivaras Lubickas (29), Clonmagadden Fort, Navan was stopped by Garda Flood at Boreen Keel, Navan on 20th March last year. He had no insurance or tax and was holding a mobile phone while driving.

A letter handed in by the employer of the defendant, a stone mason, saying he needed his car to drive for work assignments throughout the country was commented on by Judge Walsh.

She said that the fact that he needed his car “does not weigh heavily on my mind”. She imposed a fine of €200 and disqualified him for two years on the insurance charge.

Christopher Foran (58), Tuiterath, Balrath was fined €250, and disqualified for three years for having no insurance adn fined €250 for having no driving licence when stopped by Garda Hickey at School Lane, Kentstown on 13th October 2019.