Sixteen months in jail and 10-year ban

A 45-YEAR-OLD Monaghan man with a long list of previous convictions was given consecutive prison sentences totalling 16 months and a 10-year driving disqualification when he appeared at Monaghan District Court recently in relation to two separate drink driving episodes.

Aiden McKenna of Creighans, Glaslough, admitted driving with excess alcohol and without insurance or a valid licence at Rooskey, Monaghan Town, on March 10 last; and again at Mullaghmore East, County Monaghan, on April 21.

Sergeant Lisa McEntee said McKenna had extensive previous convictions, coming to 72 in total. These included counts of theft, drink driving, dangerous driving and public order breaches in 2024 that had attracted prison sentences and a five-year driving ban.

Solicitor Roisin Courtney said her client had a serious drink problem. But he hadn’t wasted the court’s time by contesting any of the charges and the judge was being asked to give what leniency he could.

Judge Raymond Finnegan, however, said it was very hard to give credit where the previous convictions were “so appallingly bad”.

For the drink driving on March 10, a four-month prison sentence was given, together with a seven-year driving disqualification. For having no insurance on the same date another four-month sentence was applied, consecutive to the first. Four months in jail and a 10-year ban were the penalties for the drink driving on April 21; while a further four months in jail, again made consecutive, was handed down for being uninsured on that occasion.

That came to a total of 16 months in prison, Judge Finnegan clarified, along with the 10-year driving ban.

The judge told the defendant directly that he hoped he could get himself sorted out while inside.

Ms Courtney indicated that her client would not be appealing the sentences.