Man ‘not capable of driving’ court is told

He was Kieran McAlinden, whose address was given to the court as Malcolmson Park, Magheralin, and he pleaded guilty to a number of 
offences.

A fine of £150 was imposed for driving without a supervisor on October 15, 2013, while he was also fined £20 for not displaying ‘L’ plates and £100 for driving without due care and attention.

For driving without insurance on the same date he was sentenced to two months in custody, banned for 12 months and ordered to pay a £25 offender’s levy.

A three month prison sentence and a two year ban were imposed for driving while disqualified on March 26 this year and he received a concurrent three month sentence and two year ban for not having insurance.

The three month sentences are to run consecutively to the two month terms making five in total.

One month from two suspended sentences imposed in 2012 were invoked to run consecutively bringing the total sentence to seven 
months.

The case had been adjourned from a previous court so that a pre-sentence report could be obtained.

A barrister representing the defendant said McAlinden was not capable of driving and should not be driving.

District Judge, Mrs Bernie Kelly, said the defendant insisted on driving despite being banned and the only way she could protect the public was by ‘locking him up’.

The barrister said that as soon as the defendant’s mother died he went out and bought a car.

McAlinden accepted he should not be driving.

Judge Kelly said the defendant had been given chance after chance and she added that the offences were so serious there was only one penalty she could impose.

McAlinden’s barrister applied for bail to appeal against the sentencing but Judge Kelly said she would not release him to live on his own and asked whether his brother could provide a surety.

At Friday’s court bail was granted with the condition that McAlinden lived with his brother at an address in Lurgan.

Bail was set at £200 with a £1,000 surety.