Saturday 31 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. 19727Driving without insurance · Co. Longford · 28 Feb 2022

Driver fined for uninsured driving after turning back from Garda checkpoint

Miroslav Hanuscin (52) of Edgeworthstown, Longford, was stopped by Gardaí after a vehicle turned back from a checkpoint set up on 28 February 2022 in the Granard area, and he told them he had no insurance. He pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to driving a mechanically propelled vehicle without insurance at Aughafin, Edgeworthstown. Judge Owens registered a conviction and fined him €400 with four months to pay. The most recent reports of the fine were published on 24 and 26 September 2023.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced23 Sep
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Miroslav Hanuscin (52) of Edgeworthstown, Longford, was the driver of a vehicle stopped by Gardaí.
Where
The offence took place at Aughafin, Edgeworthstown.
When
  • Gardaí set up a checkpoint on 28 February 2022 in the Granard area.
  • Reports of the fine were published on 24 September 2023 by Longford Leader and on 26 September 2023 by Offaly Express.
Cause
The vehicle approached the checkpoint and turned back, and Gardaí followed it.
Investigation
Gardaí signalled the vehicle to stop and asked the driver for his certificate of insurance, which he said he did not have.
Charges
Hanuscin pleaded guilty to driving a mechanically propelled vehicle without insurance; one report's lede called the offence driving without documentation.
In court
The case was heard at Longford District Court before Judge Owens.
Sentence
Judge Owens registered a conviction and fined Hanuscin €400 with four months to pay.
Other details
  • Hanuscin has previous convictions for no tax and drink driving.
  • His solicitor said he had recently bought the car and had been insured before then.
  • The defence said he was covering a school pickup for his daughter and panicked at the checkpoint.
  • Hanuscin apologised to the court and works as a cleaner, and he is the sole provider for his family.
19 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe offence took place at Aughafin, Edgeworthstown. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenGardaí established a checkpoint on 28 February 2022 in the Granard area. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe Garda checkpoint was set up on February 28, 2022 in the Granard area. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí observed a vehicle turn back from the checkpoint and followed it. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationThe driver told gardaí he did not have insurance. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí saw a vehicle approach the checkpoint and turn back, then followed it and signalled it to stop. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí asked the driver for his certificate of insurance and he said he did not have one. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeHanuscin pleaded guilty to driving a mechanically propelled vehicle without insurance. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Longford District Court. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Owens registered a conviction. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Owens registered a conviction and imposed a fine of €400 with four months to pay. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceHanuscin was fined €400 with four months to pay. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had previous convictions for no tax and for drink driving. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe solicitor said Hanuscin had recently bought the car and had always been insured until then. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe solicitor said Hanuscin had arranged for a colleague to collect his daughter from school and took a chance when the driver could not. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherHanuscin apologised to the court. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe solicitor said Hanuscin works as a cleaner and is the sole provider for his family. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe defence said the car had recently been bought and the driver had always had insurance until then. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defence said the driver was covering a school pickup and panicked at the checkpoint. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 26 Sep2023
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Uninsured driver in the Midlands fined for turning back from Garda checkpoint

    First report of this court case. It gives the checkpoint date and location, the Garda account of the stop, the defendant's previous convictions, the defence explanation, and the €400 fine.

    convicted, Miroslav Hanuscin, 52, named, non-irish (judged from name)Miroslav Hanuscin
  2. 23 Sep2023
    Sentencedlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    Uninsured driver in Longford fined for turning back from Garda checkpoint

    Court report on sentencing: Hanuscin pleaded guilty, was fined €400 with four months to pay, and the article gives his address, his previous convictions, and his solicitor's account of the circumstances.

    convicted, Miroslav Hanuscin, 52, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Miroslav Hanuscin