A lorry driver who refused to answer his summons for a number of offences, including having no insurance, was fined a maximum €6,500 and banned from driving for two years in the District Court this week (October14 ).
Garda Keith Harrison gave evidence of having stopped Stephen Coyle, Creve, Monaghan, Co Monaghan at Bogganfin, Athlone at 10 am on the morning of February 2 in a Scania lorry because he had not been wearing a seatbelt.
On further inspection of the vehicle, Gda Harrison discovered Coyle had no insurance, no tax and no roadworthiness certificate.
The court heard how none of these documents were forthcoming within the statutory 10 days for production at a Garda station of the driver’s choice.
With neither the defendant nor a legal representative present in court, Judge John Neilan was left with no choice than to give Coyle the maximum available fines on four of the five counts.
He fined him €5,000 and disqualified him from driving for two years for ha ving no insurance, and €500 each for having no tax, for no roadworthiness cert and for not producing it.
Judge Neilan took into consideration the no seatbelt summons. Coyle has two weeks to lodge an appeal.
