Ukrainian father-of-three avoids driving ban after insurance mix-up

A Ukrainian man living in Elphin with his wife and three children avoided a driving disqualification after Carrick-on-Shannon District Court accepted his explanation for an insurance lapse as a genuine misunderstanding.

Feliks Ohly (40) from 3 Convent Gardens, Elphin, Roscommon, who has no previous convictions, appeared before Judge Ciaran Liddy on June 24 charged with driving without insurance. The court heard that Ohly had recently sold his previous vehicle and believed the insurance still in place would extend to the new car he was driving.

He was stopped by Gardaí while driving the newly purchased vehicle and only then discovered he was not insured to be on the road. The court was told he immediately secured a valid policy the next day.

Ohly’s solicitor Martin Burke noted that the father-of-three was doing his best to comply with Irish laws and had acted in good faith throughout. "He is living in Ireland 3 years, he works full-time in a factory in Longford, and fully reliant on driving to support his family."

Judge Liddy accepted the circumstances and acknowledged Ohly’s prompt action and full cooperation. “This appears to have been a genuine misunderstanding,” the judge said. “There’s no indication of deliberate wrongdoing, and he addressed the matter responsibly.”

Taking into account the lack of previous offences, Judge Liddy imposed a €100 fine and chose not to disqualify Ohly from driving.

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