Banned mechanic caught test driving car just six weeks into driving disqualification

A mechanic who was put off the road for 12 months for drug driving was caught at the wheel just six weeks into that ban, Mullingar District Court heard last week.

Sean Downey (26) of Gibbonstown, Rochfortbridge, Westmeath was under a four year driving disqualification for no insurance, handed down at Ennis District Court in October 2023, when he was picked up by gardaí while taking a car belonging to his girlfriend for a test drive.

Sgt Orla Keenan, for the state, said gardaí from the Divisional Drugs Unit had been on patrol shortly before 10am on February 26 this year when they came across a 161-G registered car being driven out from the Ardilaun Heights area of town.

Officers noticed a male driver and carried out a vehicle check, which revealed that the car had no valid insurance.

Sgt Keenan said gardaí signalled for the driver to pull at Clonmore Industrial Estate, where Gda Sandra Gilger spoke to the man, who confirmed his identity as Sean Downey.

He almost immediately informed Gda Gilger that he did not have a valid driving licence or insurance, and he was arrested under section 38 of the Road Traffic Act.

Sgt Keenan said Mr Downey was taken to Mullingar Garda Station, where he was later charged, cautioned and handed a true copy of each charge.

The court was also informed how Mr Downey was hit with two further charges after he failed to produce his insurance and driving licence documentation within the 10 days required under road traffic legislation.

Having pleaded guilty, Mr Downey the court heard, had 21 previous convictions to his name.

Sgt Keenan said the most recent of those was at Longford District Court on January 14 this year for a drug driving related offence, where 12-month ban and a fine of €500 were issued.

Judge Bernadette Owens was also told Mr Downey had been banned from driving for four years at Ennis District Court in October 2023 for no insurance while a further offence for no insurance was recorded at Mullingar District Court in February 2017.

Judge Owens told defence solicitor Louis Kiernan: “You have a bit of a battle,” in composing any form of credible mitigation on his client’s behalf.

“I understand that Judge,” replied Mr Kiernan, who noted how Mr Downey’s 2017 conviction had come when he was just 17.

He said outside of motoring related issues, Mr Downey was a law abiding citizen.

“I accept he has a serious amount of them at this stage and he clearly has had a blind spot in relation to road traffic,” he said, noting that his client should have “known better” than to get behind the wheel of a car while banned given his work as a mechanic and tyre fitter.

Mr Kiernan said the incident arose after Mr Downey had carried out some minor repair work on a car his girlfriend had bought, conceding that the accused should have called on someone else to undertake the necessary test drive on the vehicle.

That said, Mr Kiernan asked to the court to pay heed to his client’s “very honest and cooperative” approach in dealing with gardaí and the fact he still was subject to a four-year driving ban from Ennis.

Judge Owens said she was mindful Mr Downey’s arrest and subsequent prosecution had come “only six weeks after he was dealt with in Longfor,d” as she indicated her preference to adjourn matters for four months.

That decision, she said, was being made in order to allow Mr Downey undergo a probation report to include a pro social driving course.

She ordered him to liaise with probation services for a community service assessment of 140 hours in lieu of four months in prison.

Mr Downey was remanded on bail to Mullingar District Court on September 18.