Prison for Cork motorist with 10-year driving ban who ‘took chance’

A motorist with a 10-year driving ban was spotted by gardaí as he drove past them at speed yesterday.

Eugene Bannon, 38, of Windy Heights, Monard, Rathpeacon, Co Cork, was disqualified from driving for 10 years in April 2022.

But yesterday, he said after he was caught driving despite the ban: “I took a chance.”

Garda David O’Donoghue stopped the Ford Transit van as he noticed it driving at speed at Knockpogue Avenue, Farranree, Cork. When Garda O’Donoghue stopped the driver, he checked his details and discovered that the driver was disqualified at the time.

The accused was arrested and charged with driving without licence or insurance and brought directly before Cork District Court where there was an objection to bail being granted.

Judge Mary Dorgan remarked that it was most efficient policing to have an offence detected at 10.40am and brought before the court within an hour or so.

Bail was refused following Garda O’Donoghue’s objections.

Defence solicitor Shane Collins-Daly said the accused man was pleading guilty to the charges against him. Eugene Bannon said he knew he should not have been driving but that he took a chance.

Judge Mary Dorgan noted from the evidence of previous convictions that the accused man had 11 previous convictions for driving without insurance, among his 57 previous listed convictions.

Judge Dorgan sentenced him to a total of four months in prison and imposed a new 10 year driving disqualification from yesterday.