Suspended sentence and four-year ban
Carlow Court House. Photo: Michael O'Rourke
A GRAIGUECULLEN resident received a suspended sentence and was disqualified from driving for four years after he was caught driving while already serving a disqualification.
Marek Kieszkowski (38) of Fruithill Manor, Graiguecullen, Carlow pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to section 56 of the for driving without the required motor insurance, as well as an offence contrary to section 38 of the same acts for driving without holding a valid driving licence.
The court heard that on 23 March, Garda Ryan of Carlow Garda Station, while on patrol in the town, observed a man driving while holding a mobile phone in his right hand. Upon stopping the vehicle, it was determined that the driver, Mr Kieszkowski, was disqualified and therefore did not hold a valid licence or motor insurance.
The court heard that Mr Kieszowski has six previous convictions, all of which are for road traffic offences, with the most recent from 12 February 2025, when he received a two-year disqualification for driving without a licence or insurance.
Noting that this was the defendant’s second offence for driving without insurance, Judge Geraldine Carthy asked Mr Kieszkowski’s defence if there was any reason for him to be driving on the day in question.
Defence solicitor Jill Griffin conveyed her client’s apologies and said it was a “mistake” that he was driving while disqualified.
In relation to the section 56 offence of driving without insurance, Judge Carthy convicted and sentenced Mr Kieszkowski to four months in custody, suspended for a total of 12 months, and disqualified him from driving for four years, while the section 38 offence of driving while disqualified was taken into consideration.
