A man banned from driving in the Republic of Ireland has been disqualified on this side of the border after providing his brother’s details when stopped by police.
Fining the 34-year-old £1,000, the deputy district judge commented: “He is very lucky not to be charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.”
Padraig Piaras Rankin, of Summer Hill in Derry/Londonderry, pleaded guilty to using a vehicle without insurance, taking a motor vehicle without authority and obstructing a constable at Armagh Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Newry, on Tuesday.
Prosecution outlined that on August 6, at 12.48pm, police received a report of a possible disqualified driver in a Citroen Berlingo van in the Armagh area.
At around 6pm, officers stopped a vehicle matching the description on the Newry Road being driven by this defendant.
Upon being spoken to, Rankin claimed to be insured, providing his brother’s name and date of birth to the officers, with some difficulty.
However, police located a photographic identification document which belonged to this defendant inside the vehicle and a piece of paper was attached to the driver side visor with his brother’s date of birth.
Checks revealed that Rankin had been disqualified in the Republic of Ireland for offences of dangerous driving and driving whilst unfit.
He subsequently made admissions to police, stating that the van belonged to his brother and he had taken it without his permission.
Deputy District Judge Chris Holmes commented: “He is very lucky not to be charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.”
Rankin was disqualified from driving for 12 months and was ordered to pay a fine of £1,000, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 26 weeks.
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