Man had no insurance because he could not contact the company on a Sunday
His father had recently purchased the vehicle from Northern Ireland
A man caught driving without insurance had just bought the car and was unable to contact his insurance company as it was a Sunday, Glenties District Court heard.
Furthermore, the defendant believed that he was covered to drive under his existing policy but this was not the case.
Aaron Byrne, 20, of Rosmor, Glencolmcille, Malinmore, was before Glenties District Court on Wednesday, April 23. He pleaded guilty to driving without insurance at Main Street, Kilcar on February 4, 2024
Inspector Mick Doherty told the court that at 1.05am on the date in question, Garda Stephen Fahy spoke to the defendant who was driving a 5 Series BMW.
“He admitted after caution that he had no insurance,” said the inspector. “His father was after purchasing the vehicle.”
The court heard that the defendant had no previous convictions.
Solicitor Francis Gillespie explained that the offence had taken place on a Sunday.
“He had purchased the car from Northern Ireland,” said Mr Gillespie.
“It was a Sunday. He couldn’t contact the insurance company. He thought his policy would cover him but with a Northern Ireland registration, that was not the case.”
Judge Éiteáin Cunningham imposed a conviction and fine of €200. She said that in light of the circumstances and given that the defendant had no previous convictions, she would not impose a driving disqualification on this occasion.
The judge added: “Suffice to say, if he comes back before the court on the same matter it will be a four-year mandatory disqualification.”
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