Man living in Malin Head wins road tax case after trying to pay fine

A man living in Inishowen has won a court case for non-display of road tax after telling a judge that he had tried to pay the fine but was out of time.

Yurii Avtukhovych, of Holiday Let 4, Malin Head View, Ballygorman, Malin Head, appeared before Carndonagh District Court to face a non-display of disc charge.

The detection was made on February 24, 2025, at Malin Town by Garda Mark Doherty, who observed no valid tax disc on the defendant’s 2005-registered Audi A3 car.

The court heard how Mr Avtukhovych is Ukrainian and doesn’t have perfect English.

Mr Avtukhovych handed in a letter, which was read out in court by Sergeant Conor Mulkerns.

In the letter, Mr Avtukhovych outlined how he had received a fixed charge penalty notice for not displaying a valid tax disc. He said he attempted to pay the charge prior to the court date.

He detailed how he had sent emails to the relevant office, asking to pay the fine, but he was told that the case was now in court.

Mr Avtukhovych said he was unaware that he could not pay the fine after the deadline. He said it was his mistake and he was very sorry. He offered to pay the fine in court on the day.

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Having heard the evidence, Judge Monika Leech decided to dismiss the case.

“I think I’m going to give this gentleman the benefit of the doubt; he’s been very honest in the way he has approached this matter.”

“I’m striking the matter out; you’re free to go,” she told the man.

The judge added: “I don’t know how you’re going to convey this to him; my knowledge of Ukrainian is very limited.”

“Thank you,” Mr Avtukhovych said, as he left the courtroom.