Kildare resident with previous drink driving convictions jailed

A Kildare resident with four previous convictions for drink-driving was jailed on Thursday, January 26, for driving without insurance, and driving while disqualified.

Piotr Matuszewski, with an address at 18 Glenheen Park in Portlaoise, County Laois, was convicted for the offences, which took place at Cherryville, County Kildare, on July 6, 2021.

The 53-year-old was serving a four-year driving disqualification at the time of the offence, which was imposed in 2018.

Judge Desmond Zaidan remarked that Mr Matuszewski 'did not have a pleasant record.'

He added: "It is clear that there is a pattern with alcohol here," to which defending solicitor Tim Kennelly replied: "(There is) no doubt there are alcohol problems, Judge."

Mr Kennelly said that his client was 'genuinely remorseful' for his actions, and emphasised that Mr Matuszewski has an addiction to alcohol.

Judge Desmond Zaidan

"If you take alcohol out of the equation, I don't think you'd ever see this man turn up here ever again," Mr Kennelly told the Judge.

In response, Judge Zaidan said that while he appreciated Mr Kennelly's defence of his client, he cited Mr Matuszewski's previous record of drink-driving offences.

He imposed a five-month custodial sentence on Mr Matuszewski.

In addition, the judge imposed a six-year disqualification on him.