Limerick man given 40-year driving ban​​​​ in district court

A MAN with over 120 previous convictions has pleaded guilty to a number of road traffic offences in Limerick District Court.

Published 3rd Jun 2026, 12:24 BST Updated 3rd Jun 2026, 12:27 BST Iconic A MAN with over 120 previous convictions has pleaded guilty to a number of road traffic offences in Limerick District 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.

Jonathan McCarthy 38, with an address at Churchfield, Galvone, Limerick was caught driving without a licence or insurance in a public place at O’Malley Park, Southill, Limerick on August 26, 2025.

Upon being stopped, gardaí discovered that Mr McCarthy was driving whilst disqualified. Prosecuting Sergeant Aisling O’Neill told the court that Mr McCarthy has 127 previous convictions.

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The sergeant told the court that Mr McCarthy was disqualified from driving for 12 years at Limerick Circuit Court on October 13, 2024. Solicitor Sarah Ryan, representing Mr McCarthy, said that “he shouldn’t have been driving in any shape or form”. The solicitor described his behaviour as “reckless”, and detailed that the man has a drug problem.

Judge Patricia Harney convicted Mr McCarthy, sentencing him to a total of seven months’ imprisonment, and disqualified him from driving for 40 years. Ms Ryan said that Mr McCarthy had been in custody for other matters since March 5, 2026. Judge Harney backdated the man’s sentence to when he first entered custody.

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