Farmer who ‘took risk’ and drove while disqualified is banned for four more years
69-year-old was driving to his farm to tend to sick cattle, when gardai intervened
An Inishowen farmer who ‘took a risk’ and drove while disqualified earlier this year has been put off the road for another four years.
Patrick Doherty, of Upper Cabry, Quigley’s Point, appeared before Carndonagh District Court, where he pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and without a licence whilst being disqualified.
Sergeant Emmet Brady summarised the evidence against the 69-year-old defendant, who has 29 previous convictions.
He told the court how Garda Declan Lambe was on mobile patrol at Cabry, Quigley’s Point on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
At 11.30am that morning he observed Patrick Doherty driving past him in a 07-DL-registered silver Toyota Corolla car.
Garda Lambe turned and followed Mr Doherty, and spoke with him at his farm a short time later, when he admitted driving without insurance or a valid licence.
Sgt Brady told the court that the defendant has 29 previous convictions, including for driving without a licence and driving without insurance, for which he was already disqualified for a period of four years.
Defending the case, solicitor Ciaran MacLochlainn said his client took a chance and drove to tend to sick cattle across the road at his farm.
“My client is a 69-year-old married man with four children. He is a small farmer by occupation, and his income is about €200 per week, with his pension.”
“We were about to make an application for the removal of the disqualification order for him, but unfortunately on this particular day he took a chance.”
“His house is along the main road and his farm is just across the road, and he drove across the main road. He got a phone call from the vet, his cattle were very seriously ill at the time. The vet rang him to say that he would be at the farm in a few minutes.”
“Normally, his daughter would drive him up to the farm, but on this occasion, she was at work, so he took the risk, and unfortunately, the guards came along.”
Mr MacLochlainn said his client – who suffers from heart problems and has two sons in residential care – wanted to hold his hands up at the earliest possible moment.
“He asked me to plead [guilty] at the earliest opportunity. He is anxious to dispose of the matter and put it behind him.”
Judge Ciaran Liddy informed Mr Doherty that: “Only for such an early plea of guilty, I’d be putting the case back for further assessment.”
The judge warned him, however, that breaching a court order – by driving while banned – was a “serious matter”.
“He was well advised to enter an early guilty plea,” the judge stressed.
Judge Liddy disqualified Mr Doherty for four years for driving without insurance and imposed a fine of €150, with three months to pay.
He imposed an additional fine of €100, with three months to pay, for the charge of driving whilst disqualified.
“I’m greatly obliged, Judge,” said solicitor Ciaran MacLochlainn.
Judge Liddy asked if Legal Aid was required in the case and was told it was not.