Father of three disqualified from driving for five years after being caught driving without insurance for the fifth time in Sligo
A father of three was disqualified from driving for five years after being caught driving without insurance for the fifth time. He was amongst a number of drivers before Sligo District Court.
Jean Pierre Mathieu (46) of Kilglass, Enniscrone was charged with failing to produce a driving licence, driving without insurance and failing to produce a certificate of insurance at Falduff, Tubbercurry on November 13, 2024. He was also charged with driving without insurance and failing to produce insurance at Aderavoher, Easkey on June 12, 2024.
The court heard that Mathieu had eight previous convictions.
Ms Aoife Kelly, solicitor (defending), told Judge Ciaran Liddy that her client was a Mauritian national who had been living in Ireland for the last 20 years. She added that Mathieu mistakenly thought that he was covered on his wife’s policy. Ms Kelly continued that her client works part-time and has three children, two of which attend college.
Judge Liddy noted that this would be Mathieu’s fourth conviction for driving without insurance. He then corrected himself, that it would actually be the defendant’s fifth conviction for the offence.
Judge Liddy disqualified Mathieu from driving for five years on both offences, with them to run concurrently. He also imposed a six-month sentence, suspended for one year on condition that the defendant did not drive in a public place.
Lina Semenaviciute (56) of River Road, Cartron Point, Sligo was charged with careless driving at Lidl Car park, on April 9, 2024.
Sergeant David McDonagh told the court that at 11:08am, gardaí received a report that a pedestrian had been struck by a car that failed to stop.
The pedestrian who was visibly impaired was struck when walking along a pedestrian crossing. The pedestrian’s head hit Semenaviciute’s windscreen before they were thrown to the ground.
The court heard that the defendant had no previous convictions.
Mr Mark Mullaney, solicitor (defending), told Judge Liddy that his client co-operated fully with gardaí and that the injured party was fully compensated by Semenaviciute’s insurance company.
Mr Mullaney said that it was an accident and explained that there were no amber lights flashing at the pedestrian crossing. He added that both Semenaviciute’s and the injured party’s view was obstructed by flower pots.
Judge Liddy fined Semenaviciute €250.
Donal Brennan (47) of Drumlegga, Cloone, Co. Leitrim was charged with exceeding the speed limit of 100km/h at N4, Hollybrook, Demesne, Castlebaldwin on August 9, 2024.
The court heard that Brennan drove at 129km/h. Judge Liddy fined the defendant €360.
Kostiantyn Buharenko (55) of Flynn’s Corner House, Main St, Carrick on Shannon was charged with failing to give appropriate information to the owner of the vehicle he damaged, failing to remain on the scene of the collision and failing to give appropriate information to Garda Mark Irwin at ATU, Ash Lane, Sligo on October 5, 2023.
Sgt McDonagh told the court that at 4:15pm, gardaí received a report of hit-and-run road traffic collision. Upon viewing CCTV footage, gardaí saw that the collision took place when Buharenko was driving out of a car parking space.
Gardaí spoke to Buharenko who told them that he did not believe it was serious and that was the reason he did not report it.
The court heard that Buharenko had no previous convictions.
Mr Mullaney, told Judge Liddy that his client was an Ukranian national who had been living in Ireland since the war. He added that Buharenko was very sorry for what happened. Mr Mullaney continued that his client was driving his employer’s vehicle on the day and that the injured party was not at a loss.
Mr Mullaney said that since Buharenko transferred his Ukrainian Licence for an Irish one, he became a novice driver and therefore had a lower threshold of penalty points than a qualified driver. He added that his client pleaded guilty, that he was living in rural county Longford with his wife and that he needed his vehicle.
Judge Liddy fined Buharenko €200 for failing to remain on the scene and struck out the remaining matters.
Article funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.