Wexford man is put off the road for two years

A motorist from Bunclody was disqualified from driving when his case went before Judge John Cheatle at a sitting of Gorey District Court.

Gavin Myles John Sunderland, from 11 Sliabh Ros, Bunclody, was charged with having no insurance, no licence and holding a mobile phone while driving at Newtownbarry, Bunclody, on April 29, 22.

Garda John Cashman gave evidence in the case and told the judge that on the date mentioned he observed the defendant holding a mobile phone.

He stopped the vehicle and demanded the defendant produce evidence of insurance and his driving licence, however, the accused told the garda he wasn’t in possession of it.

The court also heard the defendant admitted he was holding his mobile phone while driving.

“I made a lawful demand for his documents but he failed to produce them at Gorey Garda Station,” said Gda Cashman.

He also told the judge that a fixed charge penalty notice issued in relation to the holding a mobile phone charge wasn’t paid.

The court also heard Sunderland has eight previous convictions. He was represented in court by a barrister who said that her client was working and a lorry ha broken down and he “stupidly got in the car to get a part for it”.

“He said he will not drive again until he has a licence again,” said the barrister.

“He is working fulltime and he does have previous [convictions] but they date back to 2010,” she added.

“He has a 2010 count for no insurance and I am bound by statute to impose a disqualification,” said Judge Cheatle.

He then imposed a two-year driving ban on the no-insurance charge and marked the other matters as taken into account.