An Armagh man who was caught driving after his licence was revoked on medical grounds has been handed a £60 fine.
Court heard the 63-year-old was refused a licence in 2017 after going blind in one eye and being diagnosed as diabetic.
Francis Gerard Kernan, of Battleford Road, pleaded guilty to having no driving licence at the city’s Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
Court heard that on November 12, police responded to a report of a one-vehicle collision on the Blackwatertown Road.
Officers spoke to the defendant who had been the driver of the Toyota Avensis involved.
Checks showed that Kernan had been refused a licence in 2017; he was subsequently cautioned and told he would be reported.
Defence barrister Conor Coulter stated: “Mr Kernan had his licence revoked on medical grounds due to the loss of sight in one eye and being diagnosed with diabetes.
“He had previously been given permission to drive pending appeals but these had not been successful.”
He added: “Mr Kernan knows that he shouldn’t have been driving and comes before the court with a record but that is of some vintage.”
District Judge Rosie Watters commented: “That’s him pretty much off the road for the remainder of his life.”
This was confirmed by Mr Coulter, who agreed that was the case.
Kernan was handed a three-month disqualification and ordered to pay a fine of £60, along with the offender’s levy of £15.
