'It’s far better to come in and put your hands up' advises judge in Cork court

A Cork man who claimed he had valid insurance when he was previously convicted admitted in court that it was not the case, as he faced two more charges for the same offence.

Bantry District Court heard that 26-year-old Ryan Quirke of Boffickil, Eyeries, Beara, was charged with driving without insurance and driving while disqualified on two occasions on August 20 2025 and on September 23 2025.

Quirke had previously appeared in Bantry District Court on November 27 2025 where he claimed that he was wrongly disqualified from driving for no insurance in January 2024 because he did not appear in court and did in fact have valid insurance. 

The matter was adjourned by Judge Joanne Carroll to allow Quirke time to get proof of insurance for the first incident for a potential appeal.

However, when Quirke appeared in court on December 11 2025, defence solicitor Colette McCarthy said that it was now apparent that Quirke was not insured at the time of the original conviction. 

The court was told that Quirke had three previous convictions arising from the same incident in 2024 for careless driving, driving without insurance and driving without a licence. 

Ms McCarthy said that in his defence, Quirke had “a strong work ethic” and despite losing his employment because he could no longer drive, he had secured another job in Cork in the New Year.

Telling Quirke to stand up straight in court Judge Carroll said the court took a “very dim view about how this man has approached the case.” 

CHARADE

She said that the “most shocking part” was Quirke’s “charade that he was wrongly convicted in the first place.”

The judge said that Quirke knew his premium had lapsed but he was “prepared to brazen it out to the very last second and there’s not a lot more to be said.” 

She added that Quirke had knowingly driven without insurance “on more than one occasion.” 

The judge said that a penalty of community service would be appropriate but she would reluctantly not impose one as Quirke was starting a new job. 

For driving while disqualified on August 20, 2025 he was convicted and sentenced to three months in prison suspended for 12 months. 

For driving while disqualified on September 23, 2025 he was also convicted and sentenced to three months in prison suspended for 12 months.

For driving without insurance on August 20, 2025 he was disqualified from driving for four years and fined €500 with six months to pay. 

For driving without insurance on September 23, 2025 he was also disqualified from driving for four years and fined €500 with six months to pay.

Judge Carroll added: “There is no need for this deception and dishonesty. It’s far better to come in and put your hands up.” Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.