Carndonagh man (67) banned from driving for two years after failing to attend court

A 67-year-old Inishowen man has been disqualified from driving for two years and fined €850 after failing to appear in court to answer a series of motoring offences.

John Doherty, of Glenmakee, Carndonagh, was due before Buncrana District Court facing four charges, including driving without insurance, having no motor tax and failing to produce an NCT certificate. The case had previously been adjourned on nine occasions.

When Mr Doherty did not attend court, Judge Emile Daly directed that proceedings continue in his absence after being satisfied that he had been properly served with a summons.

Garda Patrick McHugh gave evidence that on August 23, 2023, at approximately 3.50pm in the afternoon, he was on duty in Carndonagh when he observed a 2006-registered black Volkswagen Jetta being driven on Pound Street.

A check carried out on the Garda mobility system indicated that the vehicle was not insured.

Garda McHugh stopped the car and spoke with the driver, who identified himself as John Doherty and produced a full Irish driving licence. However, he was unable to provide any proof of insurance.

Further checks showed that both the motor tax and NCT had also expired, and the vehicle was subsequently seized under Section 41 of the Road Traffic Act.

Garda McHugh made a formal request for Mr Doherty to produce his insurance certificate and NCT documentation at a Garda station of his choice within ten days. Clonmany Garda Station was nominated, but no documents were ever produced.

The court also heard that a fixed charge penalty notice had been issued in relation to the no tax offence, but this had not been paid either.

Mr Doherty has one previous conviction, dating back to 2016, for failing to wear a seatbelt.

After being asked to outline the defendant’s background for Judge Daly, Sergeant Conor Mulkerns said Mr Doherty is married and resides in Carndonagh, and that he had not otherwise come to significant Garda attention.

Judge Daly noted that no explanation or mitigating circumstances had been offered to the court due to the defendant’s absence. She said that in such circumstances, she had no option but to apply the appropriate penalties, including a mandatory ban.

Mr Doherty was disqualified from driving for two years on the no insurance charge. Judge Daly explained that, without any special circumstances being presented, she could not exercise her discretion to avoid imposing a ban.

She also issued fines totalling €850, allowing four months for payment.