Teacher who obtained a fake driving licence on the Internet is convicted of fraud

A teacher who tried to swap a fake driver’s licence that he got on the Internet for a full Irish licence has been convicted of fraud and fined €1,000.

Ciaran Doherty, of 17A St Columba’s Avenue, Buncrana, pleaded guilty to one count of fraudulently attempting to obtain a licence when he appeared before Buncrana District Court.

The court heard how the 43-year-old secondary school teacher had attempted to exchange a false Polish driver’s permit for a genuine Irish licence.

A second charge of attempting to exchange a fake South Korean driver's license was dropped in light of his guilty plea.

Sergeant Conor Mulkerns outlined the evidence against Mr Doherty in court.

He said the offence was detected on April 8, 2024, when the accused submitted an online application for an exchange of a Polish driver’s licence for a full Irish licence.

However, the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) immediately suspected the Polish licence of being false, and following further investigation, this proved to be the case.

Mr Doherty was subsequently arrested on November 19, 2024 and was interviewed in relation to the allegations.

Sgt Mulkerns further told the court that he has no previous.

Defence solicitor Frank Dorrian said his client had acted out of pressure to help at home, having returned to Inishowen from abroad.

“He spent thirteen years working abroad in various capacities, but principally as a teacher. He was teaching at a very elevated level at a university in South Korea. He then returned to Ireland around four years ago.”

“At that time, he was under pressure. His mother had passed away, and he was looking after his infirm father. He was also trying to discharge his education requirements to secure a teaching qualification in this jurisdiction, which he has actually succeeded in doing. He has about twelve weeks to go in his course.”

“The necessity for a licence arose from the necessity of his obligation to his father, and someone told him that you could exchange a Polish licence for an Irish licence.”

“He applied for a Polish licence on the Internet. He then submitted that licence to the licensing authority here to exchange it for an Irish licence. However, when that application was made it was detected immediately by the Irish authorities, because the numbers weren’t lining up, obviously.”

Mr Dorrian said Mr Doherty had acted “recklessly and foolishly” and made full and complete admissions after his arrest.

“He’s a man of learning, and he should have known better than to do something like this. He took a chance on it while under pressure. He didn’t think it through.”

“The fraud was detected as soon as it was presented. His involvement in this was recklessness, by acquiring it in the first place, and foolishness, by submitting it to the Irish authorities.”

The solicitor added: “This was a mistake; an error of judgement. As frauds go, it’s at the very lower end of the scale. It is a serious matter; it was an act of deception, and he shouldn’t have done it, but there’s no financial deficit arising out of any of this, and it wasn’t designed for that purpose.”

“There’s no suggestion that he was driving on this licence, and since that time, he has gone through the channels and obtained an Irish driving licence.”

Mr Dorrian said Mr Doherty is “within touching distance of obtaining a teaching qualification in this jurisdiction”, while a conviction for fraud could “blight” his career prospects.

The defence solicitor urged Judge Emile Daly to consider the Probation Act or a charitable donation in lieu of a criminal conviction.

“He has spent his entire career teaching, and this type of conviction for fraud could operate as a complete roadblock to his progress as a teacher, and that might be somewhat disproportionate to the offence.”

Having carefully listened to the evidence and mitigation, Judge Daly ruled that a conviction was appropriate.

“A fraud is a fraud. He knew it to be a false instrument, and just because there’s no financial loss, it doesn’t lessen the fact that what he did was a fraudulent act.”

“This is a man who is well-travelled and well-qualified. It is difficult to understand why he would have embarked on this exercise.”

The judge imposed a fine of €1,000, with four months to pay. She then fixed recognisance at €150, if Mr Doherty wishes to appeal the verdict against him.