An Armagh man, who was drinking a tin of beer whilst driving without a licence or insurance, has been fined.
The case of Colm O’Neill (42), of Navan Court, was heard before Armagh Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Newry Courthouse on Tuesday.
He was charged with driving without a licence, driving without insurance and making a false declaration to obtain insurance.
The prosecution told the court that on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at approximately 7.30pm, police received a report that O’Neill was driving on the Killylea Road in Armagh while drinking from a tin of beer.
Police located the vehicle on the Mall West and signalled for O’Neill to stop.
A preliminary breath test (PBT) was conducted, which did not exceed the legal limit.
Checks on police systems revealed O’Neill had served a period of disqualification until November 2022.
He was not within the disqualification period, but remained disqualified until a test resit.
Police also noted that he had taken out an insurance policy on the vehicle on July 5, 2024, in his name.
The insurance company later stated that no previous convictions had been disclosed by O’Neill when applying for the policy so cover would not be provided.
Sentencing in his absence, District Judge Anne Marshall said: “He has a bad record but some of them are quite historical.”
O’Neill was handed a fine of £800 and a £15 offenders’ levy.
He was also disqualified from driving for one year.
