Prison sentence handed out to Leitrim man for no insurance convictions

A man who was disqualified from driving and had previous convictions for driving without insurance was seen driving by an off duty garda.
Raymond McGovern, Drumhubbrid, Drumcong, Co Leitrim appeared in Carrick-on-Shannon District Court on February 16 last before Judge Kevin Kilrane.
Garda Damien Cosgrove, Cavan Garda Station, told the court that on December 15, 2021 at 6.13pm he was off duty when he observed a white Toyota Landcruiser towing a trailer at Tulsk, Co Roscommon being driven by Mr McGovern. He said he knew Mr McGovern to see for 11 years from his time working in Leitrim. He had also seen that vehicle a number of times.
Mr McGovern denied he was driving and didn’t recall where he was on that date. Asked if that was his own Landcruiser, he replied no, he had never driven one.

He told Judge Kilrane he was not familiar with that vehicle but later admitted his brother owned a vehicle like that.
Judge Kilrane said he had given Mr McGovern “an awful lot of chances” in the past and the evidence of the garda disturbed him. He said he would give Mr McGovern one final chance to produce his driver’s licence and adjourned the matter to February 25.
He said he was concerned he wasn’t going to turn up and set bail on his own bond of €100 with an independent surety of €3,000 cash which was paid over.
At the court on February 25, John McNulty, solicitor, said Mr McGovern has very severe lifelong dyslexia and has certain difficulties understanding that a driving ban means a driving ban.
He said he wanted to confess to driving at Tulsk and apologised for not accepting that charge the previous week.
Judge Kilrane said he was not sure what the problem was with Mr McGovern. He wondered if it was a case of “outright defiance” and said if it was he would go to prison for a long time.
He added Mr McGovern “comes across as being an ordinary decent individual but he has some particular problem with the road traffic acts.”

He said the defendant “sought to lead us down the rabbit hole” with regard to his licence and it was difficult to see how someone could forget whether they had a licence in the past or not. The defendant maintained he did have a licence and was covered to drive.
Judge Kilrane stated he gave him every opportunity to check that out and ultimately it came to light that he didn’t have a licence.
He said Mr McGovern was up in Tulsk with his jeep and trailer and Garda Cosgrave observed him.
Judge Kilrane said the defendant “was no fool and knew how to conduct his business in farming activities.”
He added, “Even if he has a difficulty in reading, he has none in listening and understanding a court order. He didn’t pay much attention to it.”
The court heard he has previous convictions from March 26, 2021 at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court, for no insurance where he was fined €200 and disqualified for two years, for drunk driving where he was fined €200 and disqualified for three years, and for having no driving licence and fined €100.

On April 24, 2012 at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court he was given a six months suspended sentence for no insurance and disqualified for seven years. A charge of dangerous driving was taken into consideration.
On the charges before the court, he was convicted and sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for two years, and disqualified for six years, for having no insurance on September 5, 2019 at Main St, Mohill. A charge of having no driving licence was taken into consideration.

He was convicted and sentenced for four months, consecutive, and disqualified for six years, concurrent, for having no insurance at Rantogue, Aughacashel on September 22, 2019. He was convicted and fined €100 for not wearing a seat belt and a charge of having no driving licence was taken into consideration.
Finally, he was convicted and sentenced to four months, consecutive, for having no insurance at Fenaghbeg, Co Leitrim on August 8, 2021. A charge of having no driving licence was taken into consideration.
Judge Kilrane set the terms of suspension at a bond of €1,000 cash from the monies already in court.
Judge Kilrane warned him, “It would be tragic if he had to go to prison, but to prison he will go.”