A 21-YEAR-OLD Limerick man drove a bulletproof car even though he was banned from driving because of a €1 million contract on his life, a court heard yesterday.
Ger Dundon, Hyde Road, Limerick, has a "total disregard" for road traffic legislation because he lives in constant fear of being murdered or slain, his solicitor told Limerick District Court yesterday.
John Devane said his client's family, who "live in daily fear for their lives" gave the 21-year-old a number of different vehicles including a black bulletproof BMW for his own protection.
The court heard that Dundon - who was disqualified from driving for eight years in 2005 - is afraid to walk the streets of Limerick or any other city in Ireland.
It was further claimed that if he takes a lift from somebody else the car owner's insurance policy could be cancelled because of the "grave and serious risk" to the occupants of the car and members of the public.
Dundon, who had 48 previous convictions prior to yesterday's court appearance, pleaded guilty yesterday to 34 separate motoring offences. These included charges of dangerous driving, driving with no insurance, and driving while disqualified on separate dates between February and June of this year.
According to his solicitor, Dundon lives in constant fear and is aware of a €1 million contract on his head. "My client is a 21-year-old man who lives under the constant fear of being murdered or slain. He is aware of a €1 million contract on his head because of who his family are and cannot walk around the streets of Limerick city or any city in this country," said Mr Devane.
"If Mr Dundon asks anybody to give him a lift around town or if he is spotted as a passenger then the owner of that vehicle has found that their policy of insurance has been cancelled because the insurance companies have been told by the authorities there is a grave and serious risk to the occupants of the car and members of the public," he added.
Mr Devane went on to say that nobody would drive with his client except gardaí and prison escorts "who are armed to the teeth because they need to be".
He said his client has a total disregard for road traffic legislation because of the dangerous position he is in and because if he asks anybody for a lift he is putting their lives at risk.
Mr Devane said he was asking for leniency in "these difficult circumstances".
Before imposing sentence, Judge Tom O'Donnell said Dundon had an "appalling disregard" for road traffic legislation and asked how he could reconcile the defendant's supposed fear if he was driving around on a trail bike, as was the case in one of the charges.
The judge also said he found it unimaginable that the accused was driving a bulletproof car for his own safety and said on another occasion he had driven away from gardaí even though they would not be a threat to him.
"It appears he's of the view that he can drive around the streets of Limerick even though he's disqualified. This shows breathtaking arrogance to say the least," said Judge O'Donnell. He said he had to draw the line as the defendant had shown no respect for the road traffic laws.
He jailed Dundon for a total of 10 months and disqualified him from driving for 15 years.
Dressed in a grey hooded top Dundon was flanked in court yesterday by a number of prison officers. There was also a strong Garda presence at the courthouse.