Friday 30 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 15483Driving without licence or insurance · Co. Kilkenny · 10 Jul 2024

Disqualified driver convicted of no licence and no insurance in Kilkenny

On 10 July 2024 a garda on mountain bike patrol stopped a silver Ford Transit on High Street, Kilkenny, and found it untaxed, uninsured and without an appropriate roadworthiness certificate. The driver, Mark Sweeney, was arrested under the Road Traffic Act on suspicion of being a disqualified driver, and the vehicle was seized. Judge Carthy at Kilkenny District Court later convicted him of having no valid driving licence and of driving without insurance, and imposed a six-year driving disqualification on the insurance conviction. The latest development, reported on 14 November 2024, is that recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced13 Nov
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Mark Sweeney was convicted of having no valid driving licence and of driving without insurance.
Where
A garda checked a silver Ford Transit on High Street, Kilkenny.
When
The traffic stop took place on 10 July 2024.
Cause
The garda stopped the vehicle while on mountain bike patrol.
Investigation
  • The garda established the vehicle was not taxed.
  • The vehicle did not have an appropriate certificate of roadworthiness, a UK MOT being presented in this case.
  • The driver was not insured.
  • The garda arrested the driver under the Road Traffic Act on suspicion of being a disqualified driver.
  • The vehicle was seized.
In court
Judge Carthy at Kilkenny District Court convicted Mr Sweeney on both charges.
Sentence
  • Judge Carthy imposed a six-year driving disqualification on the no insurance conviction.
  • Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal.
Other details
  • The garda told the court the defendant had eight previous convictions.
  • The garda described the driver as extremely unhelpful at the traffic stop.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe garda checked a silver Ford Transit on High Street, Kilkenny. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whenThe traffic stop took place on July 10. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • investigationThe garda established the vehicle was not taxed. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • investigationThe driver was not insured. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • investigationThe garda arrested the driver under the Road Traffic Act because he suspected him to be a disqualified driver. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • investigationThe vehicle was seized. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeThe driver was convicted of having no valid driving licence and of driving without insurance. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtJudge Carthy convicted Mr Sweeney on both charges. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Carthy imposed a six-year driving disqualification on the no insurance conviction. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • sentenceRecognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe garda told the court the defendant had eight previous convictions. (kilkennypeople.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Nov2024
    Sentencedkilkennypeople.ie, first report
    "Extremely unhelpful" disqualified driver applied for new licence - Kilkenny Court

    Court report of the conviction and sentence. Adds the details of the traffic stop, the arrest, the seizure of the vehicle, the convictions and the disqualification.

    convicted, Mark Sweeney, male, named, irish (judged from name)Mark Sweeney