Brazilian driver didn’t know he needed insurance

A BRAZILIAN national living in Carlow was given time to obtain an Irish driving licence when he appeared before the local district co on an insurance charge. 

Marcelo Vanancio, whose address is c/o Flynn’s Yard, Bennekerry, was found to have no insurance when stopped by gardaí in Tullow on 29 July last. 

Defending solicitor Alexander Rafter told the court his client “didn’t have insight” into how the Irish insurance system works, explaining that in Brazil, individual vehicles are not required to be insured. He noted there were “a number of Brazilians up for the same charge”. 

Mr Rafter said his client, who has been living in Ireland for over a year, works in construction and currently has no car. 

The court was told that Mr Vanancio holds a full Brazilian driving licence and is in the process of obtaining an Irish learner permit. 

Judge Patricia Cronin said that while five penalty points would normally be applied for such an offence, there was no licence to which they could be attached. 

She described the special circumstances of being unaware of insurance requirements as “tenuous”, noting that the onus was on the defendant to know the proper legislation. The judge said she would let the matter stand and adjourned the case to allow Mr Vanancio time to obtain an Irish licence.