‘This man has zero regard for people on the road,’ says judge
Scales of Justice
Unlicenced and uninsured, Padraig Ahern (27) of Main Street, Shanagolden, Limerick made a sudden right turn when he ran into a garda checkpoint on April 28, 2025.
He was followed and charged.
Undeterred, but still unlicenced and uninsured, Mr Ahern drove again six days later on May 8.
Once again, he met a checkpoint.
And again, he was caught.
“He hit a second checkpoint in a week?” asked an incredulous Judge David Waters at Listowel District Court last Thursday.
Mr Ahern pleaded guilty to all charges including: driving without a licence and driving without insurance on April 28; driving without a licence, insurance or an NCT on May 4, and failure to appear in court on July 15 and July 17.
Mr Ahern had five previous convictions for driving without insurance and five previous convictions for driving without a licence, although one of each is subject to an appeal.
His solicitor, Brendan Ahern, noted his client “wouldn’t have posed any difficulty in terms of his behaviour” once apprehended.
A judge in Mallow had previously sentenced the defendant to 200 hours of community service, in lieu of five months prison. His solicitor suggested he do more, noting his client was able for any type of work.
“Maybe if he is put to work, judge,” said the solicitor.
“We’re gone so far past that now,” said the judge. “This man has zero regard for people on the road so it has to be a prison sentence.”
“This is multiple times he’s caught and then seven days later he’s caught again.”
The judge sentenced him to five months prison and a 10-year driving disqualification for driving without a licence on April 28, with a concurrent five-month sentence and four-year disqualification for driving without insurance on the same date.
For the May 4 offences, the judge sentenced him to a consecutive prison term of five months and a 10-year disqualification for driving without a licence, with a concurrent five-month sentence and four-year disqualification for driving without insurance.
He took the three other convictions into consideration.
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