Motorist fined for speeding and driving uninsured

A Dublin man who contested a prosecution for speeding on the M1 and driving without insurance, on the grounds that he wasn't driving and his home was being searched by gardai at the time, was convicted at Dundalk district court last week.

Anthony Hackett of Greenfort Gardens, Clondalkin denied both offences and failing to produce his insurance arising out of the detection on the M1 at Drumleck on May 15th last year.

A member of the Roads Policing Unit gave evidence of a vehicle being driven at 150kph in a 120kph zone at 11.50am. The Defence solicitor said he had instructions from his client that he wasn't the driver.

When Judge Nicola Andrews asked if he was the registered owner, the court was told that it is registered to someone else "in that area" but "not him".

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The solicitor said the defendant has never driven the car and has never had use of it. The garda told the court that no driving documents were produced and the driver had gave Mr Hackett's name and address. The date of birth given did not match with the year Mr Hackett said he was born in.

Under oath he denied driving on that day, adding "I was in me house. Me house was searched by Ronanstown (gardaí). It definitely wasn't me".

Judge Andrews, in convicting him, said she was satisfied Mr Hackett was driving the car on the date in question.

After hearing he had previous convictions for failing to produce his insurance and failing to give information as the owner of a vehicle, the judge imposed a fine of €501 for driving uninsured and a further fine of €500 for the speeding offence and added

"I'm going to disqualify for six months if he doesn't complete a drivers awareness course by the next date (January 21st).