Uninsured man drove drunk pal's car home
A MAN drove a car without insurance for the fifth time while disqualified because he did not want his friend, who was drunk, to drive and cause harm to other people, Swords District Court has heard.
Daniel Betley (25) was sentenced to three months in prison, which Judge Patricia McNamara suspended for one year on condition Betley does not drive.
She also imposed a seven-year disqualification and fined him €600 for having no insurance.
Betley, of Jugback Lane Crescent in Swords, pleaded guilty to driving without insurance, driving while disqualified, and driving with no tax and no NCT at Thornleigh Road in Swords on December 13 last.
Sergeant Bob Kavanagh gave evidence that Betley was stopped by gardai at 10.35pm as his front left headlamp was not working.
Betley, who has 30 previous convictions, including one for driving while disqualified and four convictions for driving without insurance, then failed to produce his documents.
The court heard Betley received a 10-year driving ban in 2011 for his fourth conviction for driving without insurance, to which the judge said: "Yet he goes out again and does the same thing."
Drinking
Defence solicitor Fiona D'Arcy said the car belonged to Betley's friend and he drove the car to "save his friend, who had been drinking, from driving it".
"He felt his friend could have done himself or others a lot of harm," said Ms D'Arcy and explained that the friend had already reversed the car and crashed into something.
She said Betley had been the victim of an assault a number of years ago and turned to alcohol to help him cope.
"He has stopped drinking now," said Ms D'Arcy.
The judge further convicted and fined Betley €150 for having no NCT, €300 for having no tax and €250 for driving without a driving licence.