North Dublin widower and father of two Joe O'Reilly was yesterday convicted at Balbriggan District Court of driving without insurance. He has been fined €750.
Mr O'Reilly (33) was stopped by gardaí investigating a road accident at Walshestown, near Balbriggan, last November 23rd.
Garda Declan McGarvey told the court Mr O'Reilly had been asked to produce his driving licence and insurance for the vehicle at the scene of the accident, but failed to do so.
He was asked to produce the documents at Dunleer Garda station within 10 days, but did not.
Mr O'Reilly was charged with driving without a licence and insurance and failure to produce either document.
However, he subsequently produced his licence to the court and this charge was struck out.
Mr O'Reilly's solicitor Peter Mullan told the court his client had been driving his sister's car at the time of the accident and had been under the mistaken belief that he was insured.
His client had fully cooperated with the gardaí at all times, Mr Mullan said.
This was confirmed by Garda McGarvey. Mr Mullan told the court that his client had two young children, aged three and five and used his car to commute to work in Dublin city.
Judge Patrick Brady imposed a €750 fine, but did not disqualify Mr O'Reilly from driving.
Mr O'Reilly, the widower of murdered Dublin woman Rachel O'Reilly, appeared at the court, but remained silent during the hearing.
His wife was found dead at their home in the Naul in Dublin October 4th.
No one has been charged with her murder.
The driving offence took place less than two months after her death.
