Rathcoole man jailed for road traffic offences committed in County Kildare

A Rathcoole man has been jailed for his actions in two separate driving incidents.

Judge Desmond Zaidan imposed the sentences on Valeriu Melnic, with an address listed as Calliaghstown Lower in Rathcoole, County Dublin, but who is in custody on other matters.

The 23-year-old appeared in front of Judge Zaidan at Naas District Court on Thursday, May 23 last.

Gardaí told the judge that on September 19, 2020, Mr Melnic was involved in a road accident in County Kildare.

It was then discovered that he had no licence at the time of the offence.

Then, on April 4, 2022, Mr Melnic was stopped by gardaí in County Kildare and failed a road-side breath test for alcohol.

For this offence, he was charged with drink-driving, careless driving, and for driving with no insurance and no licence.

He pleaded guilty to the offences.

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Defending solicitor Cairbre Finan told Judge Zaidan that, in relation to the first incident, his client was 'very co-operative and pleasant with gardaí' and was 19 years of age at the time of the offence.

He also pointed out his client's guilty pleas, and added: "He has always worked; he is a very productive member of society."

Regarding the second incident, he said: "My client makes no excuses, he accepts that it was the wrong thing to do."

Mr Finan added that his client was apologetic for his actions, and further said that Mr Melnic thought that he was covered in terms of his driving insurance and licence.

Although he asked Judge Zaidan to leave his verdict at just a driving disqualification (DQ), Judge Zaidan ultimately decided to impose a five-month custodial sentence for the drink-driving offence and a further five-months in custody for the careless driving offences.

He said he took in charge the no licence and no insurance offences as part of his verdict.

In addition, the judge imposed a four-year driving DQ on Mr Melnic, and fixed recognisances at €500 cash.