A young Loughanure man has been jailed for four months and banned from driving for six years, at Dungloe District Court.
The court was told that 21-year-old Dillan McCool, Loughnaure, Annagry drove while banned on four occasions.
In jailing the young man, Judge Paul Kelly said he had every sympathy with him on the passing of his mother in the relatively recent past,
But the defendant had been before this court on four different occasions for a lengthy pattern of offences and he had been given considerable understanding up to now.
The court had tried to structure sentences that would benefit him.
But he had driven while banned on four different occasions and that was “not acceptable.”
“I am sure he knows that and yet he chose to do it.”
Dillan McCool pleaded guilty to the offences before the court.
Judge Kelly jailed the defendant for four months and banned him from driving for five years for an offence that took place at Main Street Dungloe on November 7 last year.
He gave the defendant a concurrent four- months jail sentence and banned him from driving for six years for having no insurance on the same date and at the same location.
And, driving without a licence was taken into consideration.
A charge of having no NCT was struck out.
Leave to appeal to the circuit court was in the defendant’s own bond of E500.
Inspector Seamus McGonigle told the court the defendant was driving at considerable excessive speed at Main Street on the date in question and he made full admissions and had no documents.
The court heard the defendant was currently appealing a nine months jail sentence for other matters and had previous convictions for the Unauthorised Taking of a vehicle, dangerous driving, and driving with no insurance or licence.
He also had a number of suspended sentences, the court heard.
Defence solicitor Cormac Hartnett said the defendant was well known to the court and had complex past issues which he had dealt with.
His mother had passed away and this had a big effect on him, but he had the support of his father.
He had co-operated fully with gardai as always and had re-engaged with a counsellor.
The date on which these offences occurred was his late mother’s birthday.
The defendant had a very promising future as he had a “huge work ethic.”
He had been working in construction in Dublin in the early part of last year, came back, bought a digger and was working for farmers.
His success would his work ethic and dealing with his rashness and his impulsiveness.
Mr Hartnett said there were a lot of positive things that were green shoots for his future.
The solicitor asked the court to deliver concurrent sentences and the defendant had an appeal pending.
References as to the defendant’s good character were handed in to court.