Culdaff fisherman off the road for four years for second no insurance conviction

An Inishowen fisherman who did a U-turn at a Garda checkpoint has been disqualified from driving for four years for a second no insurance conviction.

Barry Collins, of Leitir, Culdaff, pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared before Carndonagh District Court, sitting at Buncrana Courthouse.

The court heard how the 43-year-old has eight previous convictions, including another conviction for driving without insurance from March 2023.

Sergeant Conor Mulkerns outlined the evidence for the State. He explained how the prosecution arose following a Garda checkpoint at Glentogher, Carndonagh, on Sunday, June 8, 2025.

At 2.50am that morning, gardai observed a vehicle – a 2016-registered red Mini One – turn away from the checkpoint.

Gardai proceeded to stop the vehicle, and they carried out a check on the Garda mobility device, which showed that there was no insurance for it. The driver gave his name as Barry Collins.

A lawful demand was made for Mr Collins to produce his certificate of insurance and his driving licence at a Garda Station of his choice within ten days. He chose Buncrana Garda Station but did not produce the required documents.

Defence solicitor Frank Dorrian conceded that a second conviction for no insurance within a three-year period would bring his client a mandatory disqualification of four years.

He said Mr Collins had let his policy lapse and intended to resume payments.

“My client is a fisherman, and he owns a small vessel, which he runs out near Culdaff,” Mr Dorrian told the court.

“The vessel got into difficulty, which resulted in my client having to buy a new engine, and that exhausted the resources in his bank account, which caused the payments on the insurance policy to go into default.”

“He was hoping to attend to the matter and get himself back on his feet, but unfortunately, he didn’t get there in time.”

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Mr Dorrian further told Judge Emile Daly that Mr Collins earns between €500 and €700 per week when he’s fishing.

The solicitor added: “He now finds himself in this very difficult situation, because his movements are dictated by the tides and the seasons, and he’s going to have to secure alternative transport to his business at the very least.”

Judge Daly said she was mandated to apply a minimum disqualification period of four years, which she duly did.

The judge also imposed a fine of €400, allowing Mr Collins four months to pay.

She took a separate charge of failure to produce insurance “into account”.