Galway motorist was caught with no insurance for eleventh time
A Galway man has received a four-month prison sentence after being convicted of driving without insurance for the eleventh time.
James Ward (37), with an address at 13 Claonadh, Circular Road, Rahoon pleaded guilty to driving without insurance - contrary to Section 56 of the Road Traffic Act - at Circular Road on October 8, 2025.
Galway District Court was told gardaí on mobile patrol at Circular Road stopped a vehicle driven by the accused after it came to light it was being driven without a valid certificate of insurance being in operation.
The court was told the accused also failed within ten days to produce a valid insurance certificate to a local Garda station.
Sergeant Joanne McGhee said the accused has 47 previous convictions including ten for driving without insurance.
Defence solicitor, Michael Cunningham, told the court that his client was fully aware of how serious a situation he finds himself in and accepts his record is "very poor".
He said Mr Ward genuinely believed he was insured on his wife's vehicle and has not driven since being stopped by gardaí last year.
Mr Cunningham said his client, a father of three, recently took on extra responsibilities following a death in the family and he was asking the court for leniency.
Judge Fiona Lydon said that the accused already has ten previous convictions for no insurance – and the court had also been told the most recent offence occurred after Mr Ward had taken on extra family responsibilities.
Judge Lydon imposed a four-month prison sentence and disqualified James Ward for driving for two years.
Recognisances were set in the event of an appeal to the circuit court.
Funded by Courts Reporting Scheme.