The number of dangerously defective cars being driven on Irish roads has reached a record level with over 128,000 vehicles being classified as “fail dangerous” when submitted for a NCT last year

According to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (Simi), the number of new cars bought in 2024 was 121,195, a decrease of 1% compared with 2023.

Callum Kearney, from Highfield, Ballincollig, Co Cork, is already serving a 27-month sentence for deception offences.

The research also found that more than half of drivers do not have equipment in their car which could prove vital if they become unintended pedestrians, regardless of the time of year.

Around a thousand drivers in the UK have been sent warning letters or emails. Photo: Getty Images

There have been 138 road deaths so far this year, up two on the same time last year

The largest bill was the €168,106 which was paid for a Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GXR for use in Abuja in Nigeria, FOI records showed.

Motorists in Ireland are most likely to upgrade their cars every three to five years

Gardaí fear plans by car enthusiasts to converge on Bundoran this weekend will bring chaos to the town

A man who had “a cosy relationship” with a serving garda who was under investigation for suspected criminal activity has avoided a jail term after the garda sent him information from the Garda Pulse system