Judge bans man from driving for 25 years
Friday September 03 2010
A judge in Donegal has said he would like to impose curfews on young drivers who appear before him.
Judge Seamus Hughes sentenced a 24-year-old man found guilty of dangerous driving to 22 months in prison and banned him from driving for 25 years.
Kevin Dunleavy, of Kerrykeel, Co Donegal, was convicted of dangerous driving at Carrigart on July 1 and August 12 and at various other locations in Kerrykeel and Rathmullan.
Judge Hughes warned young motorists that those who flout the law and endanger the public would receive similar sentences if they appeared before him.
“I want the message to go out loud and clear in Donegal, that if there are any further cases like this before me they will be treated in the same way,” he said
"I’m not tolerating young men driving around like this and endangering the lives of innocent members of the public.”
Judge Hughes asked Inspector Colm Nevin at Letterkenny District Court to look into whether or not he had the power to impose curfews on young drivers.
“I would rather impose a curfew on a young driver convicted of a first offence, so they cannot drive between the hours of 8pm and 7am or carry passengers, rather than disqualify them and affect their employment or education prospects,” Judge Hughes said.
Inspector Nevin told the judge he would investigate the issue on his behalf.
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