A man who is currently serving a two year prison sentence was before Castlebar District Court this week where he was convicted and fined €1,000 for not having insurance.
On November 1 2009, Martin Ward, 2 Mons Terrace, Castlebar, was stopped driving a blue Vauxhall Corsa by Garda John Gallagher. No insurance or driving licence was produced. On December 1 2009, Ward was driving a red Astra when he was stopped by Garda Gallagher, again documents were not produced.
Before the court sitting a provisional UK driving licence and a UK insurance policy were produced, however Garda Gallagher said that his suspicions were aroused as there was no address on this policy; the policy covers Ward to drive any vehicle even though he has a provisional licence, and Garda Gallagher said that he tried to contact the insurance company who issued the policy and he was informed that the company went out of business five years ago — even though the defendant only renewed it recently. Ward, whose main residence is in the UK, said that he gave his brother €800 to sort out his insurance and assumed that he could drive in Ireland. The defendant had no previous road traffic offences. Judge Mary Devins convicted and fined Ward €1,000.
