Man with 166 convictions is jailed for nine months

A man with 166 previous convictions added several more to his tally when he was jailed for nine months and disqualified from driving for ten years at Galway District Court this week.

Father of two, Martin McDonagh (29), from 10 Cnoc an Oir, Rahoon, pleaded guilty to refusing to give a sample when arrested on suspicion of drunken driving at Fleming’s Garage on the Tuam Road on February 27 last.

He pleaded guilty to driving without insurance on the same occasion and to breaching the peace at the garage, while a charge of assaulting a man there was withdrawn.

McDonagh also pleaded guilty to stealing a €600 mobile phone from the Quays Bar on February 15; and to driving without insurance at Carnmore Road, Oranmore on August 10 last year.

Inspector Kevin Gately said Gardaí were called to a disturbance at Fleming’s garage where a car had reversed into another car on the forecourt. A dispute arose inside in the shop and McDonagh was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. He refused to give a sample when taken to Galway Garda Station.

He had no insurance or a driving licence on the day and didn’t have any either when stopped on the Carnmore Road in August, 2013, Insp Gately added.

He said McDonagh had 166 previous convictions going back over the years since he was a juvenile and had been disqualified from driving in 2012 for 12 years.

Defence solicitor, Valerie Corcoran said her client had serious addiction issues which had never been addressed and he had not been assessed by the Probation Service since 2008.

Judge Mary Fahy imposed sentences totalling nine months on McDonagh and she disqualified him from driving for 10 years to come into effect within two weeks.

She said he was driving while disqualified and had gone to the garage with drink on him and an attitude on him as well.

Judge Fahy granted McDonagh leave to appeal the sentences on condition he not drive while waiting for the appeal.