'Veteran' of the courts given 20 year driving ban for driving offences

A MAN with 16 previous convictions for driving while intoxicated came before Limerick District’s city Court.

Published 29th Jun 2026, 10:05 BST File image | Stock Image A MAN with 16 previous convictions for driving while intoxicated came before Limerick District’s city Court. Sign up to our Limerick Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Limerick Live within your account.

Liam Mitchell, 27, with an address at Reenavan, Doon, county Limerick, pleaded guilty to driving without insurance or a driving licence when he was stopped at a garda checkpoint on Broad Street, Limerick city, on May 5, 2026.

Garda evidence from Prosecuting Sergeant Aisling O’Neill detailed that Mr Mitchell has 64 previous convictions, made up of sixteen counts of driving while intoxicated, three convictions for dangerous driving, eight for driving without a driving licence, and a number of road traffic offences.

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Solicitor Tom Kiely, representing Mr Mitchell, said “it’s no excuse but it was probably a good thing Mr Mitchell was driving, because his father was beyond intoxicated”.

Judge Patricia Harney commented that “it seems that drink is the root of his problem”, and remarked upon Mr Mitchell’s 16 previous driving while intoxicated convictions.

Mr Kiely said his client was asking the court to be as lenient as possible.

Judge Harney proceeded to convict and sentence Mr Mitchell to four months’ imprisonment, and disqualified him from driving for 20 years.

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