Gleneely teenager bought car on Facebook and drove it without tax or insurance

A young Inishowen man, who bought a car on Facebook and drove it without insurance or tax, has been cleared of multiple road traffic offences in court, after a judge ruled that the convictions could have a “serious effect” on him.

Teenager Aaron Donaghey, of Carrowmore, Gleneely, faced a series of motoring charges at Buncrana District Court, including no insurance, no tax, and fraudulent use of a number plate, as well as driving unaccompanied and failure to display L plates.

The 19-year-old defendant was represented by solicitor Ciaran MacLochlainn, who tendered a guilty plea to all charges, except the fraudulent use of a number plate charge, which was dropped by the State.

Garda Inspector Sean McDaid summarised the evidence in the case.

He told the court how gardai were on mobile patrol at Rockdale, Ballymacarry, Buncrana on Friday, August 9, 2024, when they detected the offences.

At 10.35pm that night, the guards stopped a vehicle – a 2007-registered Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI Sport – which was being driven by Aaron Donaghey.

They noticed that there were no tax nor insured discs displayed. A legal demand was made for Mr Donaghey to produce proof of his insurance to a Garda Station within ten days, but he failed to produce any documents.

He has no previous convictions, Inspector McDaid further told the court.

Defending, solicitor MacLochlainn told Judge Deirdre Gearty that his client was “caught out” after buying the car on Facebook.

“I don’t know if you’ve ever bought anything on Facebook, judge, but it’s very easy to get caught out. I got caught out myself buying things on Facebook.”

“This young man bought the car on Facebook two days prior to being stopped. He didn’t know that there were false plates on the car.”

“He was trying to get it insured, but he took the car out, and he was stopped by the guards the first time he drove the vehicle.”

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Mr MacLochlainn outlined how Mr Donaghey already had to pay €1,200 to get the car back and how he has lost the initial money he paid for the vehicle.

“He’s at the loss of the car that he bought. This was an expensive lesson for him not to buy anything on Facebook.”

“He has just started a new job in Buncrana. He now has a full licence and he needs his licence for work. He’s now bought a new car and he’s fully insured in that new car.”

“My client is a single young man who lives at home with his mother and he has no previous convictions,” the Buncrana solicitor added.

In light of the mitigating circumstances offered, Judge Gearty said she would dismiss the charges against the young Gleneely man altogether.

“I’m going to strike out everything; this could have a serious effect on him going forward, for insurance and for everything else,” the judge ruled.