Jail time for Bond who had no licence to drive
Judge Geraldine Carthy Photo: michaelorourkephotography.ie
A MAN who shares the same name as a famous fictional spy received a custodial sentence last week when he appeared before Carlow District Court on driving-related charges.
Thomas James Bond Power (29) appeared before Judge Geraldine Carthy, where he pleaded guilty to a charge of driving without insurance or a driver’s licence, and to driving while disqualified.
The offences relate to when Mr Bond Power was stopped by gardaí on the N80, Glebe, Bunclody. Mr Bond, of Carraig Ban, Bunclody, was also charged with failing to submit his driver’s licence after being put off the road for previously not having insurance. He also pleaded guilty to failing to appear before Carlow District Court on 12 February this year.
When Judge Carthy raised her eyebrows about the authenticity of the defendant’s name, solicitor Chris Hogan replied: “Yes, it’s an original name.”
He explained that the defendant’s mother was a Bond from England and that his father was a Power from Ireland, that his grandfather was called James Bond and, furthermore, one of his cousins had married a Connery.
“It’s a true name,” repeated Mr Hogan.
Sergeant Peter Smyth outlined some of the charges against Mr Bond Power to Judge Carthy. He said that gardaí caught him breaking the speed limit on the N80 in January this year and that he was disqualified at the time so therefore was not insured to drive. He continued that the defendant had tested positive for the presence of cocaine in his system and that he was arrested and brought to Bunclody Garda Station.
Sgt Smyth added that Mr Bond Power had 27 previous convictions, 24 of which were related to traffic matters, that he had been disqualified for five years at the time he was stopped and that this was his third offence for driving without insurance.
Mr Hogan told Judge Carthy that his client “fully accepts that he shouldn’t have been driving” but that his life was “spiralling out of control” after a tragic death in his family.
He continued that Mr Bond Power no longer took drugs, that his client was now addressing his issues and asked Judge Carthy not to impose a custodial sentence on him.
Judge Carthy said that there were several aggravating factors in the case, including that it was the defendant’s third time being in court for driving without insurance and that he’d already got the benefit of a suspended sentence.
She said that she had “no choice but to impose a custodial sentence” and sentenced Mr Bond Power to four months’ imprisonment, while also putting him off the road for six years.
Recognisances were fixed, and Mr Bond Power is appealing the sentence.
