A judge was so critical of the business practices of a major insurance firm in the District Court this week (December 16 ) that he dismissed one of a defendant’s two charges of driving without insurance and refused to ban him from driving despite the defendant not even having a licence.
Before the court was Paul Berry (44 ) from Tormey Villas, Athlone who had been caught driving without insurance twice, on April 13 and 16.
At his last court appearance on December 2, Berry’s solicitor, Mr Tony McLynn, argued his client believed he was covered for up to 14 days by just phoning up Quinn Direct.
This did not satisfy Judge David Anderson who postponed sentencing Berry on the no insurance charges until December 16 and ordered Inspector Nicholas Farrell to summons the managing director of Quinn Direct to explain this.
In court on Tuesday, a Ms Eileen Carlin appeared as a representative of Quinn Direct.
“You’ve been here all day? Well, it’s going to take a lot more of your time going to all the District Courts in the country because of the way they [Quinn Direct] do business,” said the judge.
“Now, he gets a seven day cover and he doesn’t pay, who covers him?” asked the judge.
“Quinn Direct are at risk if he hits someone in the seven days and hasn’t paid,” said Ms Carlin.
She also admitted on the stand that her company had no record of the defendant’s licence.
“So, when Quinn Direct take bookings over the telephone, how do they know they’re telling the truth?” asked the judge.
“A form is filled out later,” said Ms Carlin.
“So, your company is willing to take the risk of the order of numbers of millions without taking the appropriate checks? And they complain about the banks?”
Having heard in previous evidence that Berry had contacted Quinn Direct on April 1 and believed himself covered for 14 days (even though it transpired to be only seven days ), Judge Anderson struck out the no insurance charge from April 13.
He fined Berry €500 for the April 16 no insurance charge and a combined €500 for having no licence on either day.
“I won’t disqualify him on the basis that if Quinn Direct are that casual about their money and the Motor Bureau’s money they can offer between seven and 14 days cover over the phone,” said the judge.
