Dublin motorist drove wrong way on M1 slip road - 'I could never get insurance, I was always banned'

A man with 113 previous convictions appealed the severity of a sentence imposed for driving while disqualified and without insurance. The incident occurred outside Drogheda on September 23, 2018, when he drove in the wrong direction on a motorway slip road. A garda testified that he was travelling northbound near Platin Terrace and that another driver had to take action to avoid him. The vehicle had no tax displayed and was seized, and the driver failed to produce documents. He was sentenced to four months imprisonment, disqualified for four years, and fined €300 on a reduced careless driving charge. He said he could not obtain insurance and had previously served custody for tax and insurance offences, and the judge questioned how to stop him driving again.

"A garda testified that at 11.50pm he was travelling northbound on the road parallel to the M1 at Platin Terrace near the smaller toll bridge when the car in front of him had to take action to avoid Mr Dunne who was in their lane. The officer stopped the appellant. A roadside test proved negative. The car had no tax displayed and was seized. The driver failed to produce documents."

"The defendant, with an address in Clondalkin, Dublin, was sentenced to four months imprisonment and disqualified for 4 years for no insurance and fined €300 on a reduced charge of careless driving following an incident which occurred outside Drogheda on September 23, 2018. A garda testified that at 11.50pm he was travelling northbound on the road parallel to the M1 at Platin Terrace near the smaller toll bridge when the car in front of him had to take action to avoid Mr Dunne who was in their lane."

"The court heard of 113 previous convictions, most for Road Traffic offences including drink driving.He was serving a 15-year disqualification at the time. Mr Dunne said that he had served time in custody. The longest (term) was 12 months "for tax and insurance". "I could never get insurance, I was always banned," he continued."

"Judge Sarah Berkeley asked was he still smoking and the appellant replied that he wasn't.He had to give up work and was on disability. "Being put in prison didn't stop him driving," the judge remarked. "How do we stop him?" "I have a bus pass," Mr Dunne said. He continued that he lived in a caravan in the front garden of a house he used to live in in Clondalkin. When he came home one day the caravan was on the road."

Read at Irish Independent