Insurance lapse was ‘obvious mistake’, Carlow judge said
Carlow Courthouse
A MOTORIST whose insurance was cancelled just a day before he was stopped by gardaí has avoided a driving ban after a judge accepted it was “an obvious mistake.” Kieran Patrick Sheedy (32) appeared before Judge Andrew Gubbins at Carlow District Court, where his solicitor Joe Farrell entered a guilty plea on his behalf.
The court heard that at 3.10pm on 16 February 2026 Garda Miller stopped a car at Rathnapish and found that it had no valid insurance, the policy having been cancelled the previous day.
The vehicle was seized and a lawful demand was made for production of valid insurance, which was not produced.
The court heard that Mr Sheedy, The Oaks, Newbridge, Co Kildare has one previous conviction for careless driving, for which he received a €750 fine at Naas District Court in April 2025.
“I have spoken to him at length. He’s very concerned about the outcome today,” said Mr Farrell.
He told the court: “It looks like it was cancelled for non-payment,” explaining that his client had “taken his eyes off the ball” and “had never taken chances with insurance previously”.
Mr Farrell continued that his client works in a local business, quite a distance from his home, and also has to drive his children about. He asked whether the court could find a way not to impose a disqualification.
Judge Gubbins said: “I have seen this before. It can happen when you miss a direct debit payment – the policy is cancelled. In the circumstances, it was an obvious mistake.” He convicted Mr Sheedy and fined him €400, with no disqualification.
