Bus driver caught on the road in Midlands without insurance avoids driving ban

A bus driver was spared his licence after admitting driving without insurance when he appeared in court in the Midlands. 

Khazamula C Mashaba (47) of 9 Ferns Park, Ferns Bridge, Monasterevin, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty to having no insurance on the R425 at Ballyclider, Laois on April 21 last.

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick told a sitting of Portlaoise District Court that “he accepts that he was uninsured. He is hoping that you will leave him with his licence. He is a bus driver.” 

She told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court that the man was “working with the local city direct bus in the town here” and she said he had no previous convictions. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said her client was a South African man who had only bought the car before he was stopped. She said “he needed to get to work” and had taken the car. She said he was insured on his wife’s car at the time but not this vehicle. She asked the judge not to disqualify him from driving. 

Judge Andrew Cody convicted the man and fined him €750 but he didn’t impose a disqualification.