Suspended sentence and 14-year ban

A 62-YEAR-OLD driver with a history of road traffic offending was given a suspended prison sentence, together with a 14-year driving ban, when he came before Monaghan District Court.

Robert Olszewski, of Mullaghmatt, Monaghan Town, had been summonsed for driving uninsured and without a valid licence after he was stopped at Scarnageeragh, Emyvale, Co Monaghan, on February 19, 2024.

The Russian national had been arrested on a bench warrant, having been convicted in his absence on both counts at the court on December 9 of last year.

Sara Brennan BL, told the court her client had been given a five-month prison sentence in February 2024 for an earlier no insurance offence, and she admitted that he had a “poor record” in relation to motoring convictions.

The barrister also noted that Olszewski himself was adamant he had served another prison sentence in 2025, and he was under the impression this would have been in relation to the charges now before the court.

Sergeant James McGovern, however, said he had no records to support that belief, and Judge Raymond Finnegan agreed, as he could see no note on the summonses to say they were already dealt with.

The judge said he was therefore imposing a suspended sentence for the offences before the court. A five-month prison term for being uninsured was accordingly suspended for 24 months, with a condition being that no further offences are to be committed over that time.

The count of driving without a licence was taken into consideration.

Having been told Olszewski is already serving a 12-year driving disqualification, Judge Finnegan imposed a fresh ban of 14 years.

* This report was published with support from the Court Reporting Scheme.