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. 13654Using a false instrument · Co. Offaly

Man fined €300 for using false Spanish driving licence in Offaly

Wellevys Breno Alcantara De Souza, a 24-year-old man of The Sycamores, Edenderry, was stopped in Edenderry and handed a garda a driving licence that turned out to be false, along with a genuine Irish provisional licence. The offence of using a false instrument took place at JKL Street in Edenderry on May 2 of the previous year, the same date as a separate driving without insurance offence for which he had earlier been convicted. He pleaded guilty at Tullamore District Court, where the case was heard and reported in May 2025. Judge Andrew Cody imposed a €300 fine and ordered the false licence destroyed, which is the latest development reported on 22 and 23 May 2025.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced22 May
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
The man handed a garda a driving licence that was false, together with a genuine Irish provisional licence.
Where
The offence took place at JKL Street in Edenderry, Offaly, where the man was stopped.
When
The offence took place on May 2 of the previous year.
Investigation
Garda Damien Fleming gave evidence in court about the stop.
Other details
  • The man had previously been convicted of driving without insurance, an offence committed on the same date.
  • The man now holds a full Irish licence.
  • His solicitor, Patrick Martin, said the man had been in Ireland since 2022, was in full-time employment and needed a driving licence to drive to work.
Charges
The man pleaded guilty to using a false instrument.
In court
The case was heard at Tullamore District Court.
Sentence
  • Judge Andrew Cody imposed a fine of €300.
  • The court ordered the destruction of the false Spanish driving licence.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatHe handed a garda a Spanish licence which turned out to be false. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe man handed a garda a genuine Irish provisional licence and a Spanish licence that turned out to be false. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe offence took place at JKL Street in Edenderry. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe man was stopped in Edenderry. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe offence took place on May 2 of the previous year. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe offence was committed on May 2 at JKL Street in Edenderry. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to using a false instrument. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtHe pleaded guilty at Tullamore District Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Tullamore District Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Andrew Cody fined him €300. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe court ordered the destruction of the false Spanish driving licence. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge imposed a fine of €300. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge ordered the destruction of the false Spanish driving licence. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHe also handed a garda a genuine Irish provisional licence. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHe had previously been convicted of driving without insurance, an offence committed on the same date. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHe now holds a full Irish licence. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHis solicitor said he had been in Ireland since 2022 and was in full-time employment. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHis solicitor said he needed a driving licence to drive to work. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHe now had a full Irish licence. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHis solicitor said he was in full-time employment and had been in Ireland since 2022. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 23 May2025
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Court hears man caught driving in Offaly had false Spanish licence

    Court report on the sentencing. The article says the offence was on 'May 2 last' and the stop was 'last year', but gives no year for the offence, so the incident date is left empty.

    convicted, Wellevys Breno Alcantara De Souza, 24, male, namedWellevys Breno Alcantara De Souza
  2. 22 May2025
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Court hears man driving in Offaly town had false Spanish licence

    Adds that the man was stopped in Edenderry, produced a genuine Irish provisional licence and a false Spanish one, had earlier been convicted of driving without insurance on the same date, and now holds a full Irish licence. His solicitor said he had been in Ireland since 2022 and needed a licence for work.

    convicted, Wellevys Breno Alcantara De Souza, 24, male, namedWellevys Breno Alcantara De Souza