A LIMERICK man who was disqualified from driving for 15 years after he was caught driving a bullet-proof BMW has received a further road ban and been jailed for six months.
Ger Dundon (22), Hyde Road, Limerick, appeared before Limerick District Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to three motoring offences, including dangerous driving, on June 18th.
He also admitted threatening and being abusive to a garda on September 11th.
Dundon, who has 84 previous convictions, was jailed for 10 months last July and disqualified from driving for 15 years after he pleaded guilty to 34 motoring offences.
At the time, his solicitor told the court that Dundon, who also received an eight-year road ban in 2005, was afraid to walk the streets of Limerick because of a €1 million contract on his life.
The court heard that Dundon had been given a number of different vehicles by relatives including a black bullet-proof BMW for his own protection.
It was further claimed that if he took a lift from somebody else, the car owner’s insurance policy would be cancelled because of the “grave risk” to the occupants of the car and members of the public.
Judge Tom O’Donnell said yesterday that it was “manifestly clear” that Dundon should not have been driving and, despite the fact that he had been convicted of motoring offences before, he had “little or no regard” for road traffic legislation.
Insp Luke Conlon gave evidence that Dundon was seen driving at high speed in the Rosbrien area of Limerick on June 18th.
Shane O’Callaghan, defending, told the court that on that occasion, his client believed he was being followed by persons unknown to him.
Mr O’Callaghan added that the accused had experienced recent tragic events in his life, his one-year old child was suffering from cystic fibrosis and his mother was also critically ill.
He said the father of two was determined to stay out of trouble and added that his 84 previous convictions were all for summary offences, apart from one drugs conviction.
Judge O’Donnell jailed Dundon for six months and imposed a 10-year driving ban.