Four years on the bus for Dunmore man who missed a bus

A DUNMORE man who was caught driving while disqualified was warned that he would be 'going away' if he was caught doing so again. [private] Jonathan Wall of Gortnagoyne, Dunmore was brought before Tuam District Court on a charge of driving while disqualified and one of having no insurance. The Court heard that Wall was stopped at a Garda checkpoint on June 9 last. It was discovered that he was not covered by insurance and Wall was a disqualified driver. The vehicle was seized. The following September 11, Nicola Wall, the sister of the defendant, came to Tuam Garda Station. She said she had been out of the country and her brother did not have her consent to drive her car. James Glynn solr (defending) said his client had to get to Galway on the day he was stopped by Gardai. He missed the bus and took a chance to drive the car to Tuam where he could get a bus to Galway. He pleaded that his client had returned from America in 2009 and was unemployed. He has fallen on hard times and his means were not good. He was aware of how serious his situation was as driving while disqualified could carry a prison sentence. The defence pleaded that this was a one-off because of missing the bus. Judge Browne was sceptical. 'How unfortunate that the first time he drives a car he was caught by the Gardai,' he said. The Court was told Wall had been disqualified from driving for three years at Galway District Court where he was convicted of driving without insurance and drunk driving. Judge Browne imposed a four-year driving ban and a fine of €100. 'If he comes up before me again he'll go away,' he said and warned Wall not to drive again. [/private]