Man accused of trying to swap fake South Korean driving licence for full Irish licence

An Inishowen man has been charged with fraudulently attempting to obtain Irish driving licences by swapping them for false South Korean and Polish licences.

The unusual case of Ciaran Doherty, of 17A St Columba’s Avenue, Buncrana, came before Buncrana District Court for the issue of jurisdiction.

Sergeant Conor Mulkerns explained how the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed summary disposal of the matter at the District Court.

He outlined the alleged facts against the 43-year-old defendant for Judge Ciaran Liddy to decide on jurisdiction.

Sgt Mulkerns said the case related to two ongoing investigations, where Mr Doherty was suspected of applying to exchange false foreign driver's licences for full Irish licences.

In the first incident, in February 2021, the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) had submitted an application for an exchange of a South Korean driver’s licence for a full Irish licence. However, the South Korean licence was suspected of being false, and following further investigation, this proved to be the case.

The second allegation relates to an online application to exchange a Polish driver’s licence for a full Irish licence in April 2024.

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Judge Liddy said he would accept jurisdiction, and he adjourned the case against the Buncrana man until January 27, 2026.

Mr Doherty was represented in court by solicitor Frank Dorrian.