Ballyconnell court briefs

Drove while disqualified A Belturbet woman who was caught driving while she was disqualified was handed a suspended prison sentence when she pleaded guilty to the offence at a sitting of Ballyconnell District Court. Pauline Blewitt, Drumgart, Belturbet, was sentenced to six-months suspended on her entering her own bond to keep the for two years for the offence at Cuillaghan, Ballyconnell, on December 12. She was also fined €1,000 and disqualified from driving for six years. The defendant was also convicted of having no insurance on the same occasion and was fined a further €500 and given a concurrent six-year disqualification. Inspector Alan Cunningham said gardaí were on patrol in Ballyconnell when they encountered a car driving out of the town. They believed that the driver was disqualified and pursued the vehicle. As they approached the residence of the driver, they discovered the car crashed at the side of the road. Ms. Blewitt was disqualified at the time and a breath test proved negative. She was disqualified from driving for three years from January 1, 2009. The defendant had previous convictions. Judge Sean MacBride said this was outrageous as the driver had been caught driving while disqualified. He would not be reducing it to careless driving and he wanted to know why he should not send her away. Paul O'Reilly, solicitor defending, said her husband was suffering from bad health and it was a once off incident that would not occur again. "She never did anything like this before and will give an undertaking not to do it again." Drove without due care A Longford motorist who pleaded guilty before a sitting of Ballyconnell District Court to a charge of driving without due are and attention was fined €500. Brendan Cranston, 96 Mostrim Oaks, Edgeworthstown, was charged with the offence at Derrynacreeve Cross, Swanlinbar, on January 4, 2009. Inspector Alan Cunningham said the charge arose of a traffic accident in which minor injuries were sustained. The collision occurred at the junction. The defendant took his eye off the road and collided with another car. Arrest warrant A bench warrant was issued at Ballyconnell District Court for a Monaghan man who failed to appear on four counts of assault and a public order offence. Brendan Treanor, 21 Mulladuff, Smithboro, was charged with assaulting Stephen Brown, Peter Shannon, Stephen Connolly and John Kelly at Butler Street, Belturbet, on May 6, 2007. He was also charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour on the same occasion.