Ireland Disqualified Portlaoise driver given suspended sentence for dangerous driving
Terry Fee, a 33-year-old man, was driving in Portlaoise, County Laois, on May 28 while disqualified from driving. Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said he drove at high speed, failed to stop at roundabouts and junctions, and nearly toppled his vehicle with young children in the area. Fee admitted dangerous driving and driving without insurance on the Ridge Road, and driving without a licence at Kilminchy, and said he panicked and went into flight mode after seeing an unmarked garda car. At Portlaoise District Court he was fined a total of €1,250, given a three-month prison sentence suspended for three years, disqualified from driving for five years, and allowed 12 months to pay the fines, a sentence reported on 17 September 2023.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced15 Sep
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Terry Fee admitted dangerous driving and driving without insurance.
- Terry Fee admitted driving without a licence.
- Where
- The dangerous driving and no-insurance offences took place on the Ridge Road, and the no-licence offence took place at Kilminchy, both in Portlaoise.
- When
- The offences took place on May 28.
- Cause
- Fee said he panicked and went into flight mode after seeing an unmarked garda car.
- Investigation
- Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said Fee, who was disqualified from driving, drove at high speed and failed to stop at roundabouts and junctions.
- Other details
- Kirby said Fee nearly toppled his vehicle at one point while several young children were in the area.
- Kirby said Fee has 67 previous convictions.
- The sentencing was reported by Leinster Express on 17 September 2023.
- In court
- Judge Andrew Cody said Fee was endangering children and everybody with his actions.
- Sentence
- Fee was fined a total of €1,250.
- Fee was given a three-month prison sentence, suspended for three years.
- Fee was disqualified from driving for five years.
- Fee was given 12 months to pay the fines.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatTerry Fee admitted dangerous driving and not having insurance. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatTerry Fee admitted not having a licence. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe offences took place on the Ridge Road and at Kilminchy in Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe offences took place on May 28. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- causeThe driver said he panicked and went into flight mode after seeing an unmarked garda car. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationGarda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant was disqualified from driving and drove at high speed, failing to stop at roundabouts and junctions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtJudge Andrew Cody said the man was endangering children and everybody with his actions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceHe was fined a total of €1,250. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceHe was given a three-month prison sentence, suspended for three years. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceHe was disqualified from driving for five years. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceHe was given 12 months to pay the fines. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe defendant had almost toppled his vehicle at one point. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherSeveral young children were in the area at the time. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe defendant has 67 previous convictions, according to the garda. (leinsterexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 15 Sep2023Disqualified driver went into ‘flight mode’ on seeing gardai in Portlaoise
Reports the District Court sentencing of Terry Fee, including the fine, suspended sentence, five-year disqualification and the reason he gave for fleeing gardaí.
convicted, Terry Fee, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Terry Fee