Westmeath Man Avoids Prison Despite Pleading Guilty To Eighth Driving Offence

Thursday, 19 February 2026 at 13:14

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.