Offaly man accused of uninsured driving has 'turned the corner'

TULLAMORE District Court was told that a Kilcormac man who had spent some time in prison was off drugs and alcohol and had turned the corner.

Damian Gilmore (45), Bridge Street, Kilcormac was before the court accused of motoring offences, including having no insurance, at Ballincur, Kinnitty on June 1 last year.

Mr Gilmore also had another matter re-entered by the court because of a breach of the terms of a suspended sentence and a probation report was also before Judge Andrew Cody.

The man's solicitor, Aisling Maloney, said the probation service had concluded they were happy to work with her client and he would also be attending with the Merchants Quay addiction service.

Ms Maloney said he had been incarcerated last year and had not come to the attention of the gardai since.

He was off drugs and alcohol and had his name down for an addiction programme in Athy.

The time in custody was very influential in his thinking, added the solicitor, saying that Mr Gilmore was also helping his son who had a health condition.

Judge Cody remarked that the man had driven twice while disqualified and had a suspended sentence imposed on him for possession of drugs.

Ms Maloney said her client had turned the corner and would continue to stay on the straight and narrow.

Judge Cody adjourned all matters to December 3 next for an updated probation and welfare report. He noted that Mr Gilmore had been before the court in January.

He had served a sentence which was imposed on him in October 2024 for road traffic offences committed on July 12 that year.

READ NEXT: Offaly man with 'plenty of money for drink' refused legal aid

Tullamore District Court had heard how gardai who were escorting the transport of a wind turbine part in the early hours of the morning stopped a driver who was dangerously trying to overtake them.

That resulted in Mr Gilmore being prosecuted for dangerous driving and having no insurance at Ballymooney, Ballinagar.

He pleaded guilty and the court heard that at 2.25am gardai escorting the turbine saw a black Golf car dangerously overtaking a patrol car before going onto a verge.

The driver of the car ignored gardai and was then stopped by a road block formed by gardai and a lorry. The driver was disqualified from driving at the time.

He had a total of 39 previous convictions for offences such as drug possession, public order, theft, criminal damage, assault and trespass.

Ms Maloney explained that on the night of the offence he was on his way to Edenderry in relation to an important family matter. Ms Maloney said it was a panicked decision on her client's part.