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. 17114Drink-driving; careless driving; driving without insurance or licence · Co. Kildare

Rathcoole man jailed for driving offences in County Kildare

Valeriu Melnic, a 23-year-old from Rathcoole, was involved in a road accident in County Kildare on 19 September 2020, when gardaí found he had no licence. On 4 April 2022 he was stopped in County Kildare and failed a roadside breath test. He was charged with drink-driving, careless driving, and driving with no insurance and no licence, and he pleaded guilty. On 23 May 2024 Judge Zaidan at Naas District Court jailed him, with five months for drink-driving and a further five months for careless driving, and imposed a four-year driving disqualification.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced27 May
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Valeriu Melnic, 23, was jailed for his actions in two separate driving incidents.
Where
The offences were committed in County Kildare; his listed address is in Rathcoole, County Dublin.
When
  • The first incident was a road accident on 19 September 2020.
  • The second incident was on 4 April 2022, when he was stopped by gardaí and failed a roadside breath test.
Cause
Gardaí found that he had no licence at the time of the first incident.
Charges
He was charged with drink-driving, careless driving, and driving with no insurance and no licence.
In court
He pleaded guilty and appeared before Judge Zaidan at Naas District Court on 23 May 2024.
Sentence
  • He received five months for drink-driving and a further five months for careless driving.
  • He was given a four-year driving disqualification and recognisances of €500 cash were fixed.
Other details
The judge took the no licence and no insurance offences into account; he is in custody on other matters.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMelnic was jailed for his actions in two separate driving incidents. (kildarenow.com)
  • whereThe offences were committed in County Kildare. (kildarenow.com)
  • whenThe first incident was a road accident on 19 September 2020. (kildarenow.com)
  • whenThe second incident was on 4 April 2022, when he failed a roadside breath test. (kildarenow.com)
  • causeMelnic had no licence at the time of the first offence. (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeHe was charged with drink-driving, careless driving, and driving with no insurance and no licence. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtHe pleaded guilty to the offences. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtHe appeared before Judge Zaidan at Naas District Court. (kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceHe was given a five-month custodial sentence for drink-driving and a further five months for careless driving. (kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceHe was given a four-year driving disqualification and recognisances of €500 cash were fixed. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe judge took the no licence and no insurance offences into account as part of his verdict. (kildarenow.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 May2024
    Sentencedkildarenow.com, first report
    Rathcoole man jailed for road traffic offences committed in County Kildare

    Reports the sentencing of one man for two separate driving incidents (19 September 2020 and 4 April 2022). The article does not mention the manslaughter case at Sallins, and the name matches only by coincidence in the existing list, so it is not linked.

    convicted, Valeriu Melnic, 23, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Valeriu Melnic