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. 14111Driving without insurance · Co. Longford · 11 Feb 2023

Longford motorist pleads guilty to driving without insurance

On 11 February 2023, Gardaí running a checkpoint at Ardnacassa Avenue, Longford, stopped a motorist at 10.45pm, and no insurance was displayed. John Joe Reilly of Coolnahinch, County Longford, pleaded guilty to driving without insurance at Longford District Court, as reported in March 2025. The judge adjourned sentencing until 9 December 2025 for finalisation and said a marginally more palatable result may follow later in the year. The latest development is that sentencing is due on 9 December 2025.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted28 Mar
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
No insurance was displayed, and the driver did not produce insurance documents within 10 days of a lawful demand.
Where
The offence took place on Ardnacassa Avenue, Longford.
When
The offence took place on 11 February 2023.
Other details
  • Garda Walsh was running a checkpoint at 10.45pm when she stopped the driver, John Joe Reilly.
  • The defendant has four previous convictions; the key facts say one was for driving without insurance in 2023, while the article describes this as the second time he was caught driving without insurance.
  • The defence said the defendant insured the car the day after the incident.
  • The defence said the defendant is a single father who cares for his children and does charity work.
  • Gardaí said the defendant has not come to Garda attention since the incident.
Charges
John Joe Reilly pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to driving without insurance.
In court
The judge adjourned sentencing until 9 December 2025 for finalisation.
Sentence
The judge said a marginally more palatable result may follow later in the year; no sentence has been imposed yet.
Investigation
Courthouse Sergeant Mark Mahon presented the Garda account of the stop in court.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatNo insurance was displayed, and the driver failed to produce insurance documents within 10 days of a lawful demand. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at Ardnacassa Avenue, Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on 11 February 2023. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeThe defendant pleaded guilty to driving without insurance. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe judge adjourned the case until 9 December 2025 for finalisation. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge said a more palatable result might follow later in the year. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherGardaí were running a checkpoint at 10.45pm when a garda stopped the driver. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had four previous convictions, including one for driving without insurance in 2023. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe defence said the defendant had insured the car the day after the incident. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe defence said the defendant is a single father who cares for his children and does charity work. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherGardaí said the defendant had not come to Garda attention since the incident. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Mar2025
    Convictedlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Motorist stopped at Garda checkpoint in Longford had no insurance

    First report of the court case: guilty plea entered, sentencing adjourned to 9 December 2025, and details of the defendant's background and previous convictions.

    convicted, John Joe Reilly, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Joe Reilly