Ballyshannon man handed disqualification for second insurance offence

A Ballyshannon man was handed a four-year driving disqualification after receiving a second conviction for driving without insurance.

Stephen Moore, 32, of Timoney Apartments, Cloghore, Ballyshannon, appeared before Ballyshannon District Court, at Ballyshannon Courthouse, before Judge Éiteáin Cunningham.

He was charged for an offence concerning vehicle insurance on December 12, 2025, at Carrickboy, Ballyshannon, contrary to Section 56 (1) & (3) of the Road Traffic Act 1961, as amended by Section 18 of the Road Traffic Act 2006.

Garda Sergeant Oliver Devaney told the court: “Gardaí stopped the gentleman at 11.30pm. He was suspected that he may not have his insurance order. There was a policy but it didn’t cover the vehicle in question.”

The court heard that Moore had two previous convictions dating back to December 2019, for driving offences involving no licence and no insurance, for which he had been disqualified for two years.

On second call, Gda Sgt Devaney said: “In fairness, he did produce his documentation. There was no insurance on the night of question. He did have a policy of insurance that was transferred the following day.”

Speaking to the defendant, Judge Cunningham said: “What the sergeant is saying to me, whilst there was a policy of insurance, it didn’t cover you on the date that you were stopped.

“The difficulty from you perspective is that you have a previous for no insurance. It is a mandatory disqualification. The court doesn’’t have discretion.”

Judge Cunningham convicted Moore, fining him €250, payable within four months, and ordered a four-year disqualification from driving.

She also fixed recognisance, so that Moore has 14 days to appeal her decision, if he wished to do so.