Community service order extended for Waterford man caught driving while disqualified
The man who is already completing community service was given an additional 100 hours. Stock Image.
A man caught driving while disqualified has had a community service order extended at Waterford District Court.
Mark O’Driscoll (37) of Bay 11, Kilbarry Halting Site, Kilbarry, Waterford pleaded guilty to driving without insurance at Cluain A Laoi, Cork Road, Waterford, on June 6, 2025, at a sitting of the court, before Judge John Cheatle.
The court heard that on the day of the incident, gardaí were on patrol when they stopped the defendant’s vehicle and found that he was disqualified from driving.
The defendant also did not have an insurance certificate, and the vehicle was seized.
The court was told that the defendant had 50 previous convictions, including nine under the Road Traffic Act.
Acting for the defendant, solicitor Ken Cunningham said his client “eeks out an existence rather than living”.
He said his client has three children, one of whom is very sick, and not being able to drive creates “logistical problems that come against the family”.
The solicitor said his client was “simply asking the court for mercy”.
Mr Cunningham said the defendant is currently carrying out community service cutting grass in graveyards and “picking up papers and leaves”.
He pointed out that another defendant earlier in the day had avoided a custodial sentence for a similar offence but acknowledged that his client's record “isn’t leaving many options”.
Judge Cheatle extended the defendant’s community service order by another 100 hours in lieu of four months in prison.
He took the driving without a license into consideration.
