Suspended sentence for disqualified driver

He was 19 year old Thomas Eric Murray, Kensington Manor, Dollingstown.

For driving while disqualified on January 19 this year he was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, fined £120 and banned from driving for two years.

A £175 fine, a two year ban and a concurrent four months suspended sentence were imposed for driving without insurance.

The court heard that he was stopped while driving in Francis Street in Lurgan and admitted he did not have a licence or insurance.

Checks revealed he had been disqualified from driving for 18 months in July 2013 and a further disqualification was imposed in August of that year.

A solicitor for the defendant said a pre-sentence report was fairly positive. Murray had expressed remorse and realised how serious the matter was.

He added that Murray no longer had access to a car. The car he used on this occasion belonged to his girlfriend.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said he was unimpressed with the reason Murray had given for why he was driving, saying he was aware he was disqualified but still wanted to drive.