Jail for driver – on 13th insurance conviction
By Ronan Judge
A Galway man has received a five-month prison sentence and a 10-year driving ban after racking up his 13th conviction for driving without insurance.
Charlie Collins (30), with an address at 3 Cois Na Coille, Ballybane, pleaded guilty to three road traffic offences: driving without isurance, driving without a driver's licence and failing or refusing to provide a sample, arising from a single vehicle collision on the N17 near Claregalway on October 11, 2023.
Inspector John Moloney told Galway District Court that when Gardaí responded to the crash, the vehicle the accused had been driving was on its roof.
Collins was brought to University Hospital Galway where he refused to provide a sample, the court heard.
The court was told that Collins had 184 previous convictions including 12 for driving without insurance and 41 for theft-related offences.
Noting the circumstances of the crash, Judge Fiona Lydon said "the van was on its roof and it's a blessing no other parties were injured".
She said the court also took into account Collins was disqualified from driving at the time.
Judge Lydon imposed a five-month prison sentence and a 10-year driving disqualification on the no insurance charge and a 10-year driving ban for failing to provide a sample.
Charlie Collins also pleaded guilty to a series of other offences committed on various dates on 2024.
These included assault causing harm to a woman at Father Burke Park, Galway on November 3, 2024.
Insp Moloney told the court that the victim, Bianca Fahy, made a complaint to Gardaí she had received a number of blows from the accused leaving her with a bloody mouth.
Asked if he knew the victim, Collins said they were friends and he had apologised to her.
Collins also pleaded guilty to a number of thefts contrary to section 4 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act.
These included theft of vodka from Tesco Express, Ballybane, on July 21, 2024; theft of alcohol from Tesco, Fr Griffin Road, on November 3, 2024; theft of a tip jar from a coffee shop on Eyre Square on October 12, 2024; and theft of two bottles of Smirnoff from Aldi on October 1, 2023.
Defence barrister, Christina Burke BL, asked the court to take into account the contents of a psychologist's report.
Her client had endured a "quite traumatic childhood", had been recently diagnosed with having a "mild, moderate intellectual disability" and had chronic addiction issues.
Counsel asked the court to note that her client underwent assessment for residential treatment and was willing to do an 18-month programme at Tiglin treatment centre.
Judge Lydon adjourned finalisation of the assault and theft cases to a later date.
She said the court wanted a pre-sanction report from the Probation Services and the results of a hair / follicle drugs test before passing sentence.
Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.