Clonmany teen wasn’t insured because he drove unaccompanied on a provisional licence

An Inishowen teenager wasn’t insured to drive because he didn’t have a fully qualified driver on board with him when he was stopped by the guards last year, a court has heard.

Cian Bernard Doherty, of Cloontagh, Clonmany, admitted a charge of driving without insurance when he appeared before Buncrana District Court.

The offence was detected less than two weeks after Mr Doherty turned 18.

Inspector Sean McDaid presented the facts of the case in court. He said Garda Shauna Quinlivan was on patrol at St Mary’s Road, Buncrana on Sunday, November 17, 2024, when she stopped the accused driving a 2010-registered car.

Garda Quinlivan made a legal demand for the production of Mr Doherty’s certificate of insurance or exemption to a Garda Station of his choice within ten days; however, it was not produced.

“He has no previous convictions,” Insp McDaid added.

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Solicitor Frank Dorrian indicated that his client wished to enter a guilty plea to the charge.

He explained the circumstances of the offence, including how Mr Doherty had been driving his mother’s car at the time he was stopped.

“This is an exception to the rule in that the insurance policy had specified that he must be accompanied by a fully-licensed driver to be insured.”

“He had been on a provisional licence. He was driving around at the time, but he didn’t have the appropriate person on board with him.”

“The notification came to his mother, whose car he was driving.”

Judge Eiteain Cunningham queried whether he was covered, and Mr Dorrian said: “No. He was not accompanied.”

Mr Dorrian said the young defendant is “otherwise of excellent character.”

“There’s no accident here, nor any other aberration. He’s a young man who works hard as an apprentice of some sort.”

Judge Cunningham fined the Clonmany teenager the sum of €200, allowing five months to pay. She did not impose a ban, however.

“I’m not going to disqualify on this occasion, given the fact that he has no previous convictions and due to the special circumstances that have been outlined to me.”