Motorist caught without insurance twice inside two months by same garda, court hears

A man in his 30s who was caught behind the wheel without insurance by the same garda twice in almost as many months has been banned from driving for four years.

Edgaras Brokas, of Belvedere Hills, Mullingar, Westmeath appeared at last Thursday’s sitting of Mullingar District Court before Judge Patricia Cronin in connection with both incidents which dated from February 22 2025 and April 17, 2025.

Sgt Orla Keenan said it was at around 12.30pm in Ballinderry that gardaí came across Mr Brokas driving a 08-registered black BMW without a seatbelt.

Having admitted the offence, Mr Brokas was asked to provide his driving documentation within 10 days and nominated Mullingar as his preferred garda station.

Sgt Keenan said the accused failed to follow through on that pledge and an FCPN (Fixed Charge Penalty Notice) was issued which ultimately went unpaid.

A little over seven weeks later, Sgt Keenan said Mr Brokas was stopped for a second time at around 7.30pm whilst driving along Newbrook Road, Clonmore, Mullingar.

The accused, the court heard, was driving the same BMW he had been caught driving without insurance on the first occasion. The tax on Mr Brokas’ vehicle had also expired in February.

In an ironic twist, Sgt Keenan said the investigating officer was the same garda who had stopped Mr Brokas almost two months earlier.

Defending solicitor, Robert Marron, said Mr Brokas was resident in this country for the past two years and lived locally with his partner.

He said his client purchased the car for work commitments which involved him commuting to Dublin for a cleaning company.

Following the second detection for no insurance, Mr Marron said the accused now relied on public transport.

“He is a hardworking man that unfortunately didn’t appreciate the seriousness of insurance,” said Mr Marron.

“He does now, but it is too late.”

Judge Cronin said the court noted Mr Brokas’ guilty pleas and while acknowledging his apparent absence of insight in terms of driving without insurance, there was no escaping the consequences of his actions.

On the first no insurance incident, Judge Cronin fined Mr Brocas €200 and a further €240 for the no seatbelt summons, giving him six months to pay both.

A four year driving ban was handed down for the second no insurance offence, together with a €300 fine.

Summonses for no driving licence and the non display of tax were all taken into consideration with a failure to produce summons being struck out.

“He couldn’t produce simply what he didn’t have,” said Judge Cronin in conclusion.