Fined €500 for driving uninsured and unaccompanied
A 21-YEAR-OLD Carlow man escaped a disqualification from driving but was fined €500 for driving as an unaccompanied learner and without a valid insurance policy at a sitting of Carlow District Court recently. William Liam Dermody of New Oak Estate, Carlow appeared before Judge Geraldine Carthy charged with multiple road traffic offences.
The court heard that on 12 May 2025 at 10.45pm at Fairgreen shopping centre, Carlow, Garda O’Sullivan observed a motor vehicle driving erratically in the car park. After stopping the vehicle, Garda O’Sullivan noticed the NCT on the car was out by six months and that Mr Dermody was not insured to drive it.
Mr Dermody, who had two previous convictions, admitted to being a learner driver at the scene.
Defence solicitor Chris Hogan told the court that his client was staying in his friend’s house and was driving his friend’s car, which he thought he was insured on, asking Judge Carthy not to disqualify him from driving.
Judge Carthy declined to disqualify Mr Dermody from driving, although she noted that one will most likely follow due to the number of penalty points he has on his licence.
She then imposed a €300 fine with 90 days to pay for driving without insurance and fined Mr Dermody a further €200 for driving as an unaccompanied learner.
