Cork motorist caught with no insurance the day before court appearance for similar offence

A Cork motorist who was stopped for driving with no insurance was due to appear in court the next day for the same offence, the district court has heard.

Sergeant Eimear O’Connell told Bandon District Court that Adeel Nawaz, aged 20 of Castletreasure Grove, Castletreasure, Cork, was the driver of a Volkswagen Golf that was stopped driving on Main Street, Innishannon, Co Cork, on July 3, 2024.

The court heard that Nawaz had no tax, no insurance, no rear left lamp, no rear right lamp, no NCT, no L plates, was driving unaccompanied, had bald tyres when he was stopped. Nawaz pleaded guilty to all offences, except the charge of having no rear left lamp.

The court was told that Nawaz failed to produce documentation at Togher Garda Station and did not pay any of the fixed penalty notices issued.

The court was told that Nawaz had 20 previous convictions, all for road traffic offences, and at the time he was stopped he had two previous convictions for driving without insurance.

Sgt O’Connell said when he was stopped, Nawaz was due to appear in court the next day on another charge of driving without insurance.

Defence solicitor, Myra Dinneen, said Nawaz worked in a cash and carry in Cork that was owned by his father but had not completed a driving test.

She added Nawaz sometimes had “invasive thoughts” that compelled him to drive.

Nawaz’s mother, who accompanied the accused in court, said she was helping Nawaz deal with the issue that she shared and added that she had “about eight” no insurance convictions herself.

Judge Joanne Carroll said Nawaz was driving through Innishannon without insurance the day before he was due to appear in court charged with no insurance.

She added: “Where is the remorse there? Where is the taking the matter seriously?”

For driving without insurance, Nawaz was disqualified from driving for four years and given 100 hours of community service in lieu of four months in prison.

For no NCT he was admitted to a probation bond for 12 months on condition he engages with mental health services and completes a driving course.

For driving unaccompanied, he was convicted and fined €125 with five months to pay.

For no L plates he was convicted and fined €125 with four months to pay.

For no rear right lamp he was convicted and fined €100 with three months to pay, to which his previously paid €100 cash bond was applied. The no tax, no rear left lamp, bald tyres and failure to produce insurance charges were all struck out.

• This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme