This article is from page 12 of the 2014-11-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
A STUDENT with a “dreadful” criminal record has avoided jail for driving offences committed in Ennis last year. Chris Kelly appeared in Ennis District Court on Wednesday for sentencing for motoring offences committed at Cahercallamore, Ennis on April 23, 2014.
In December 2013, Mr Kelly, with an address at Newtown, Castletroy, Limerick was convicted after a contested hearing at Ennis District Court of having no insurance, no driver’s license and no NCT certif cate.
The court heard he was disqualif ed from driving for 15 years at the time of the commission of the offence. Mr Kelly, a father of one, has eight previous convictions for no insurance and two for dangerous driving. He also has previous convictions for theft offences, the court heard.
Mr Kelly appeared back in court in September when Garda Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court the accused had a “dreadful record”.
Judge Patrick Durcan further adjourned sentencing to November 5 after requesting a detailed report on Mr Kelly’s academic progress at the University of Limerick. He also sought clarif cation on the accused’s previous convictions.
On Wednesday, defence solicitor Tara Godfrey said she had a letter from the welfare off cer at UL, say ing “very good things” about her client. Ms Godfrey told the court her client maintains his innocence with respect to the Ennis convictions.
She said Mr Kelly has not resiled from his original position that he was not the person in the car when it was stopped by the gardaí.
She said Mr Kelly would have appealed the conviction in the circuit court but the matter had not yet been f nalised in the district court. “He would be of the opinion he’s an innocent man and was going to pursue that to the Nth degree”, Ms Godfrey added. In relation to Mr Kelly’s previous convictions, Ms Godfrey said her client is a young man of tremendous promise who squandered most of his youth. Judge Patrick Durcan imposed a f ne of € 350 on Mr Kelly for having no driver’s license. He imposed a further f ne of € 1000 in respect of the conviction for no insurance. Mr Kelly was also disqualif ed from holding a driver’s license for 10 years. Judge Durcan said he was not imposing a custodial sentence in light of Mr Kelly’s academic progress. Recognisance’s were f xed in the event of an appeal at Mr Kelly’s own bond of € 500 and an independent surety to be approved by the court of € 1000.