36 year old Shane O'Connell of Tubberclare, Glasson, Athlone, Westmeath has 27 previous convictions.
A Westmeath man caught driving for the eighth time without insurance while being banned from driving for ten years is escaping a jail sentence.
36 year old Shane O'Connell of Tubberclare, Glasson, Athlone, Westmeath is pleading guilty to driving without insurance or a licence in Bealnamulla, Athlone in July last year.
The Irish Independent is reporting Mr O'Connell, was has 27 previous convictions, admits to once again getting behind the wheel when a lift failed to materialise.
He was banned from the roads for a decade for driving without insurance in 2021.
His defence solicitor said there was no escaping the "absolutely appalling" record of a man who was undeniably "looking down the barrel" of a custodial prison term.
However Athlone Court Judge Bernadette Owens ordered the accused to complete 200 hours of community service in lieu of four months in prison with the sentence suspended for 12 months.
Westmeath Man Jailed Over 10,000 Child Abuse Images Caught Again
VR Project Comes To Midlands
Laois Resource Centre's Ophthalmology Service Sees First Paediatric Patient
Laois Workshop For 'Future-Ready Workforce' Taking Place
Westmeath Local Authority Using Drones To Detect Illegal Dumping
Midlands Set For Brighter Weekend As High Pressure Builds
Greenfields Festival Relocates To Laois Site For Bank Holiday Weekend
Laois Chef Named Finalist In National Enterprise Awards 2026
Darkness Into Light To Go Ahead In Westmeath Town After New Committee Formed
Irish Rail To Boost Security Patrols After Surge In Onboard Incidents
Junior Cycle Reforms Increased Teacher Workload - TUI
Offaly GAA Hosts 'An Evening Of Courage & Conversation'
Laois Man Drives To South Africa In Converted 20 Year Old Pajero
Plans Submitted To Turn Former Offaly Pub And Nightclub
Offaly Fianna Fail TD Backing Taoiseach 'For The Moment'
Irish Peatland International Conference Set For Offaly
91 Year Old Activist Completes Peaceful Protest Walk Across Ireland
Offaly TD Challenges Taoiseach On Peat Criminalisation
Offaly Third Highest Producer Of Wind Energy Nationally
Midlands County Council Spends Close To Half A Million Tackling Illegal Dumping