‘I took a chance’, Cork motorist with 10-year ban caught driving at speed told gardaí

But on Wednesday, after he was caught driving despite the ban, he said: “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 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 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 the accused man had 11 previous convictions for driving without insurance, among his 57 previous convictions.

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