A Craigavon man who drove a vehicle he claimed was for agricultural use which had a catalogue of defects has been handed a heavy fine.
Noel Brannigan, Whitehall Road, pleaded guilty to using a vehicle in a dangerous condition and driving a vehicle without insurance at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court.
The 62-year-old also admitted charges of no MOT, two defective tyres, defective braking system and defective light which were all connected to the same vehicle.
The court heard the defendant was spotted by police on the Lurgan Road on April 3 at around 7pm driving a Toyota Avensis.
Officers noted that both casings on the rear brake lights were missing so that they only displayed clear light.
Checks run by police found that the vehicle was not uninsured and that its last valid MOT certificate dated back to October 9, 2016.
Brannigan was stopped by police who inspected the car.
Officers found the vehicle was carrying 12 large vessels of red diesel, the two front tyres were bare and there was no glass in one of the wing mirrors.
Further inspection revealed piping poking out from the bottom of the engine.
When the defendant was cautioned for having no MOT or insurance, he replied that he did not need any as it was for agricultural work.
Brannigan was informed that he was not covered to be driving the vehicle on a public road.
The car was seized and found to also have a defective handbrake, rust to the main chassis and an oil leak.
Such was the condition of the vehicle that a prohibition notice was put on it.
The court was informed the defendant did have a record but of some vintage as his last offence occurred back in 1992.
Defence solicitor Siun Downey said Brannigan understood what he did was wrong and “was embarrassed to be before the court”.
The defendant was ordered to pay a total fine of £750, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 16 weeks.
He also had six penalty points placed on his licence.
