Carlow driver convicted for no insurance in car that burst into flames on M9 motorway

A car burst into flames on the motorway a half hour after it had been purchased, Kilkenny District Court has been told.

Gardaí attended the scene on the M9 motorway and discovered the motorist was not insured, had a provisional licence and the vehicle was exhibiting a void disc.

Driving the car on the day was David Quigley, 40 Browneshill Rise, Browneshill Road, Carlow.

Sergeant Joe Reville said gardaí received a report of a car on fire on the M9 northbound, at Mullinavat, on June 5, 2023, at 4.29pm.

Sgt. Reveille observed a number of fire tenders at the scene and a black Kia Rio on fire. The sergeant met Mr Quigley and another man, who was a passenger in the car.

Mr Quigley said he had recently bought the car in Waterford for €850 and was driving back to Carlow. He produced a learner permit, which was valid. He admitted he had no insurance and signed a memo of this in the sergeant’s notebook.

The car was seized and Mr Quigley said he did not want it back.
The insurance disc on the vehicle was out of date.

Sgt Reville said, in fairness to Mr Quigley, there had been ‘a bit of naivety’ on his part as he said the person he bought the car from said he had given him temporary permission to drive on his insurance.
The sergeant explained to Mr Quigley you can’t do that.

Sgt. Reville took the details of the passenger, who did not hold a driving licence.

The sergeant said he did not see Mr Quigley in the car but he told him he was the driver.

Within a half hour of buying the car it had gone on fire, the sergeant added. He said Mr Quigley did not get his money back because he had no details for the seller.

Solicitor Joe Farrell said he was familiar with the defendant and he found it “incredible” he would be fit to buy a car and drive it on the motorway. “It just doesn’t add up,” Mr Farrell said.

The court heard Mr Quigley had one previous no insurance conviction, from 2018.

Judge Geraldine Carthy convicted Mr Quigley of driving without insurance and disqualified him from driving for four years.

For not displaying ‘L’ plates he was fined €101 and an additional fine of €200 was imposed for exhibiting a void disc. Recognisances was fixed in the event of an appeal.