Seatbelt Slip-Up: Failure to buckle up proves to be costly for Derry van men

The men were travelling in a white Mercedes Vito van (similar to this one) when they were stopped by the guards at Bridgend.

placeholder image — The men were travelling in a white Mercedes Vito van (similar to this one) when they were stopped by the guards at Bridgend.

Defendants fined a total of €480 at Buncrana District Court after gardai had stopped their van at Bridgend last summer

Two men who failed to wear their seatbelts whilst travelling in a van in Inishowen last summer have been fined a total of €480 between them.

The cases of William McDaid, of 24 Capall Court, Derry, and Stephen O’Kane, of 40 Fanad Drive, Creggan, Derry, came before Buncrana District Court.

Neither defendant appeared in court to answer the no seatbelt charges against them, but Judge Emile Daly directed proceedings to go ahead as scheduled, after being shown proof that both men had been informed.

Garda Thomas Duggan was sworn in to give evidence in the matter, explaining how the court cases arose after initial postal fines were not paid.

Garda Duggan told the court how he was operating a checkpoint at Bonemaine, Bridgend, during the early hours of Sunday, July 20, 2025, when the offence was detected.

At 5.25am that morning, a white UK-registered Mercedes Vito van approached the checkpoint, and the vehicle was signalled to stop.

There were two male occupants in the van. The driver was Stephen O’Kane (37), while the front seat passenger was William McDaid (36), neither of whom was wearing a seatbelt.

Fixed charge penalty notices were issued to both men in respect of the misdemeanours, but neither was paid, leading to summonses being issued.

Judge Emile Daly queried what the last opportunity to pay the fines would have amounted to prior to court proceedings issuing, and Inspector Sean McDaid informed her that it would have been €180.

The court heard how the van passenger, Mr McDaid, had one previous conviction for dangerous driving, dating back to Buncrana District Court in May 2023, when he was disqualified for a period of two years and fined €300.

The driver Mr O’Kane had no previous convictions.

After listening to the evidence, Judge Daly imposed a fine of €250 on Mr McDaid, while Mr O’Kane was fined €230. Both men have been given a deadline of four months to pay the penalties.