Derry man with 472 convictions jailed again

A 39-year-old Derry man with over 470 convictions has been jailed today at Derry Magistrates Court.
Eamon Lynch from Wesley Street, Derry, and who also has an address in Letterkenny admitted a series of road traffic offences in the city in 2010.
The father-of-eight’s criminal record now stands at 472 convictions with almost 300 driving offences. He also has previous multiple convictions for burglary, assault, forgery and drugs offences.
Today his solicitor claimed he has the biggest criminal record in British and Irish judicial history.
Judge Piers Grant said Lynch’s record was “appalling” and contained the most significant number of convictions ever to come before him.
The court was told Lynch was seen driving a car near Foyle Park which struck two parked cars, two years ago.
He was arrested and when breathalysed was found to be more than twice the legal limit. At the time he had been disqualified from driving until 2023.
The court was told Lynch absconded from Derry to live in Donegal last year where he committed seven further road traffic offences.
Judge Grant imposed a 28-month jail sentence and told Lynch he would serve 14 months in custody and would be on licence for the other 14 months.